Have you heard about the New Nordic Diet, northern Europe’s answer to the Mediterranean Diet? In 2014 a group of food professionals from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland met to try to define a healthy Nordic cuisine, based on traditional and local foods, but updated with current nutrition knowledge and with an eye to sustainability.
The New Nordic Diet has been studied by nutrition researchers and found to have many health benefits. It has been associated with heart health, decreased stroke risk, decreased blood pressure, weight loss, decreased inflammation, and improved cognitive function. Its emphasis on local and sustainable foods has also been shown to have a positive effect on the environment.
Focus foods in the New Nordic Diet include:
- Whole grain and rye breads
- Berries
- Apples and pears
- Fish
- Cabbage and cruciferous vegetables
- Root vegetables and potatoes
- Low-fat dairy products
- Vegetables fats, especially canola oil
While the heart healthy Mediterranean diet contains foods that are only seasonably available in New England, the New Nordic Diet contains foods that are available throughout the year. Try my roasted apples and carrots recipe to include some Nordic foods in your next meal! (See recipe section at kathleensearlesnutrition.com)
© 2020 Kathleen Searles, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN