New Nordic Nutrition Guidelines Recommend a Predominantly Plant-Based Diet

The Nordic countries' official nutrition advice now recommends a predominantly plant-based diet, with red meat capped at 350g a week.

The Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023, published today by the Nordic Council of Ministers, are the result of a four-year effort by hundreds of researchers covering 36 nutrients and 15 food groups. They guide national diet advice in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, as well as the Baltic states. The report recommends a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, berries, pulses, potatoes and whole grains, with plenty of fish and nuts, and for environmental reasons says red meat should be considerably lower than 350g a week, according to the University of Eastern Finland, whose researchers helped write it. It also calls for at least 90g of whole grains and 500 to 800g of vegetables, berries and fruit a day.

Professor Ursula Schwab of the University of Eastern Finland, a member of the committee, said Finland will now update its own advice:

The NNR are now more detailed with regard to certain nutrients, and these changes will be taken into consideration in our national recommendations as well.

It follows Canada’s food guide telling Canadians to eat more plant protein and the UK National Food Strategy’s call for a 30% cut in meat eating.

Governments are catching up with the science!