Nutrition expert Walter Willett promotes plant-based dietary shifts

Walter Willett, a prominent nutrition expert and professor at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, has long advocated for dietary shifts toward plant-based foods to combat chronic disease. His daily diet typically includes oatmeal, yogurt, nuts, vegetables, fish, and chicken.

Willett is a co-chairman of the EAT-Lancet Commission, an initiative that promotes the Planetary Health Diet. The Commission’s 2025 report suggests a significant reduction in meat consumption, recommending an average of only 15 grams of beef, pork, or lamb per day. The Commission asserts that global adoption of these dietary changes could prevent approximately 15 million premature deaths annually.

Beyond nutrition, the EAT-Lancet recommendations are linked to climate objectives, specifically aiming to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by influencing farming, institutional purchasing, and government food policies.