Debating ambivalence about whole food, plant based diets

This debate will explore the ambivalence created by the EAT-Lancet Commission’s 2019 report on food, planet and health.

Objective: To highlight the ambivalence created by the EAT-Lancet report and elicit change talk from leaders in the area and debate attendees on if/how individual habits and our food systems must change to respond to it. A central tenet of behaviour change when informed by motivational interviewing, is the need to resolve ambivalence. The Lancet report’s recommendation on whole food, plant-based diets creates ambivalence in a country that recommends daily consumption of meat and dairy and where dairy production is a major contributor to the national economy. This is a joint application by Healthy Trinity, TCD SU and the Phil. The team applying has already hosted a comedy debate on this subject entitled, “The House would have its steak and eat it”. See here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=262579385512997 This application is for a serious debate. Speakers will be senior and/or influential government and non-government proponents of both the current government dietary recommendations and a whole-food plant based diet. We have already recruited Dr. Alan Desmond, a gastroenterologist in the NHS who promotes whole food plant based diets and we have approached the Food Safety Authority for speakers. Expected results: The debate will involve a vote at the beginning and end to determine if it has swayed opinion on personal choice and on how the system serves the dietary needs of our population.

This event would be attended by the Trinity community but publicised in the national papers and delivered in partnership with government agencies like Healthy Ireland, the Food Safety Authority, the Dairy Council.We would be very happy to partner with the other UNI ECO universities on this event.

A budget is required to provide vegan, vegetarian and meat/dairy finger food for attendees. Budget: Catering - €600. The food will be used to create a walking vote before and after the debate.

The event will be hybrid but can go fully online if necessary. The budget would be used to offer socially distanced, outdoor catering on campus