What are the Nordic nutrition recommendations?

November 14, 2025 •

3 min read

First published in 1980, the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) have evolved significantly, with the 2023 edition uniquely incorporating both health and environmental sustainability into its dietary advice for the Nordic and Baltic regions. This dual focus represents a pioneering approach to public health guidance, recognizing that what is good for our bodies is often good for the planet.

Quick Summary

The Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) are scientific, evidence-based guidelines for a predominantly plant-based diet focusing on health and sustainability. They advocate more vegetables, fruit, whole grains, fish, and legumes, while limiting red and processed meats, sugar, and high-fat foods.

Key Points

Dual Focus: The NNR 2023 is unique for combining public health goals with environmental sustainability targets.
Plant-Based Emphasis: Recommendations strongly favor a diet high in vegetables, fruits, berries, whole grains, and legumes.
Increased Fish Consumption: Ample intake of fish, especially fatty fish from sustainably managed stocks, is advised.
Reduced Red Meat Intake: Limiting red meat to a maximum of 350 grams per week is recommended for health, with environmental reasons suggesting an even lower intake.
Reduced Processed Foods: Minimizing consumption of processed meats, alcohol, and foods high in fats, salt, and sugar is a key component.
Positive Health Outcomes: Adherence to the NNR is linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.
National Adaptation: The NNR serves as a scientific basis that individual Nordic and Baltic countries adapt for their national dietary guidelines.

The Core Principles of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

At its heart, the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) represent a comprehensive, scientific, and cooperative effort by the Nordic and Baltic countries to provide a foundation for national dietary guidelines. The latest edition, NNR 2023, marks a significant update by systematically integrating environmental sustainability into its recommendations for the first time. This new approach emphasizes that healthy and sustainable food choices are deeply intertwined, promoting a more holistic view of well-being. The dual focus is built on robust scientific data, reviewing the health impact of numerous food groups and nutrients.

A Health-First and Sustainable Approach

The NNR 2023 was created through five years of collaborative work involving hundreds of experts, making it one of the most thoroughly documented works in nutritional science. It provides recommended dietary reference values (DRVs) for nutrients and energy intake, aiming to prevent chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Beyond the science, it is understood that the recommendations will be adapted by individual countries to reflect local food cultures and priorities. The recommendations generally promote a move towards a diet that is more plant-based and less reliant on animal products, which aligns with both improved health outcomes and reduced environmental impact.

What the Recommendations Advise

The NNR 2023 provides detailed advice on which foods to prioritize and which to limit. The recommendations can be summarized as follows:

Prioritize Plant-Based Foods: Consume high amounts of vegetables, fruits, and berries (500–800g+ daily), including root vegetables, legumes, and pulses. Prioritize whole grains (at least 90g daily), such as rye, oats, and barley.
Include Fish and Seafood: Aim for 300–450 grams of fish per week, with an emphasis on fatty fish from sustainable sources.
Add Nuts and Seeds: Include a daily portion of nuts and seeds (20-30 grams).
Moderate Dairy: Consume low-fat milk and dairy products in moderation (350-500ml daily). Fortified plant-based alternatives are also suitable.
Limit Red and Processed Meat: Limit red meat to a maximum of 350 grams per week for health benefits; environmental considerations suggest even less. Minimize processed meat intake.
Minimize Unhealthy Foods: Limit processed foods high in fats, salt, and sugar, and avoid alcohol when possible.
Choose Healthy Fats: Opt for healthy oils like rapeseed oil over saturated fats.

NNR vs. Typical Western Dietary Patterns

Comparing the NNR to typical Western diets highlights the emphasis on plant-based foods, whole grains, and healthy fats in the Nordic recommendations, contrasting with the often higher intake of processed foods, refined grains, and saturated fats in Western diets.

Beyond the Plate: Broader Considerations

The NNR also acknowledge the importance of physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. The recommendations serve as a scientific foundation that national authorities use to create culturally appropriate Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs). Initiatives like Sweden's "Keyhole" symbol help consumers identify healthier food options in line with NNR principles.

The NNR and Your Plate: A Conclusion

Overall, the Nordic nutrition recommendations provide a robust, scientifically-backed framework for promoting a diet that benefits both individual health and the environment. By emphasizing a predominantly plant-based approach, sustainable food sourcing, and moderation in less healthy food groups, the NNR offers clear and actionable guidance. The latest NNR 2023 represents a critical evolution, establishing a comprehensive standard that serves as a powerful tool for public health policy across the region and beyond. For more details, consult the full report {Link: Norden.org https://pub.norden.org/nord2023-003/}.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary goal of the NNR 2023 is to provide a scientific basis for dietary guidelines that promote good health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases, while also having a positive impact on the environment through sustainable food choices.

For the first time, the NNR 2023 fully integrates sustainability criteria, recommending dietary patterns that are primarily plant-based, utilize local and seasonal produce, and reduce reliance on resource-intensive foods like red meat.

The NNR 2023 recommends an intake of 300–450 grams of fish per week, of which at least 200 grams should be fatty fish, such as salmon or mackerel.

For health reasons, it is recommended to consume no more than 350 grams of red meat per week. For environmental reasons, the recommendations suggest that intake should be considerably lower.

Both diets are predominantly plant-based and promote healthy fats. A key distinction is the NNR's emphasis on locally sourced Nordic foods, like specific berries and grains, and the use of rapeseed oil instead of olive oil.

Adhering to the NNR is linked to lower risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers. It can also lead to improved blood lipid levels and blood pressure.

The NNR provide the scientific foundation, but each Nordic and Baltic country adapts the recommendations to its own national context, food culture, and policy priorities when developing its specific dietary guidelines.