happy baby sitting in high chair eating carrot in a white kitchen healthy nutrition kids
(Photo: 123rf.com)

Taking out four of the top five spots in the World Happiness Index three years running in no mean feat. While countries like Australia hover around spots nine and ten, Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Norway and Finland are consistently topping the charts.

Perhaps, just like the Mediterranean Diet has been linked to healthier, longer lives, the eating habits of our North-European friends is associated with their levels of happiness.

It’s ranked as one of the healthiest lifestyles on Earth – find out what’s in their daily diet that allows them to achieve this.

Sesame-Glazed Salmon Christmas Dinner
Sesame-Glazed Salmon (Photo: Rodney Macuja/BauerSyndication.com.au).

Fish Feasts
For a country obsessed with the ocean, you’d think we’d be giving the Scandinavians a run for their money when it comes to seafood. However, these underwater wonders play a far more significant role in the Scandinavian diet.

The average Aussie, known for their healthy fish diets, only eats 25 kg of fish of year. Compare this, say, to the Norwegians who chow down on twice as much, at around 50 kg each year. In Iceland, that number jumps to a whopping 90 kg.

But, there’s no canned tuna here. Instead, the diet incorporates deep-sea fish such as salmon and mackerel. Known for their naturally high levels of omega-3 fats, this fishy protein is not only linked to a healthy heart but will increase satiety, meaning we feel fuller for longer and naturally eat less.

It’s no wonder Norway reports a mere five per cent of their population are obese compared to Australia’s eighteen.

Try some of our delicious fish recipes here.

Boston Baked Beans and Eggs Brunch Favourites
Boston Baked Beans And Eggs (Photo: John Paul Urizar/BauerSyndication.com.au)

Big Breakfasts
Bring that cafe-style big brekky into your daily diet without the guilt – it’s working for the Swedes!

But you might want to hold on the sourdough toast, for it’s a protein-based breakfast that seems to be the trick. Following in the footsteps of the Low-Carb, High-Fat diet, the Scandinavian spread is advocating all things eggs, meats and fish.

These high-protein options are designed to keep you going until lunch without reaching for the snacks.

Need a wholesome and filling breakfast? Try our Boston Baked Beans And Eggs recipe.

Roast Maple Vegetable
Carb Cutting

The Scandinavian diet is less about forbidding certain foods than it is about finding healthier replacements.

Pasta, rice and most breads don’t make the cut (the exception is the occasionally slice of a heavy, dark rye) but you will find filling root veggies such as sweet potatoes, parsnips and potatoes.

While these starchy vegetables often make the “avoid” list in many other diets, these nutrient-dense, high-fibre roots are a much healthier alternative to your processed carbohydrates.

Try this yummy Roast Maple Vegetables recipe. 

Apricot Muesli Bars
Apricot Muesli Bars (Photo: Rob Shaw/BauerSyndication.com.au)

Pass Up Processed Foods
Those convenient supermarket-bought snack bars that parade as a healthy way to stave off hunger between meals have no place in the Scandinavian diet.

In fact, the diet consists of far less processed foods than our daily nosh. Avoiding cereals, white breads and pastas and those pesky muesli bars makes sense when they cost a small fortune to purchase.

In the end, it’s a simple equation of in vs out. Fewer meals and snacks means fewer calories to later burn off. Easy!

If you really must snack, how about baking your own Apricot Muesli Bars?

drink water dining table
Hygge Home

If you often find yourself scoffing down your lunch at your work desk, you’ll be gobsmacked to find that Scandinavian meal times are a grand affair, often lasting hours in the winter.

The Danes describe it as hygge, a sort of cosiness that comes with shared experiences and simplicity.

When it comes to food, that means taking a second to appreciate your three square meals a day and developing a healthy relationship with the things you eat.

In all, the Scandinavian diet doesn’t differ greatly from the LCHF trend. But it’s the Scandinavian lifestyle that we’re all about.

Text: The Australian Women’s Weekly

READ MORE:
10 Golden Rules Of The Mediterranean Diet Which Can Help You Become Slimmer And Sexier
Still Wondering What The Mediterranean Diet Is And How To Make It Work For You? Read This!
These Simple Food Swaps Will Help You Lose Weight And Get Smarter Too