Based on foods traditional to the Nordic countries: whole-grain rye, oats and barley, root vegetables, cabbage, berries, apples and pears, fish, beans and canola (rapeseed) oil, with low-fat dairy. Red and processed meat, sweets and salt are limited.
Not medical advice. A sample week for ideas, not a meal plan made for you. Portions are as written in each recipe and are not matched to your calorie needs. If you have a health condition, food allergies, are pregnant or take medicines (especially for diabetes or blood pressure), check with your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing how you eat.
The week
Meals with a link have a full recipe below. The others are simple meals you can put together without one.
12 oz cod fillets, cut into 4 portions (3 oz each)
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
Steps
Heat butter in a large sauté pan. Add leeks and carrots, and cook gently for 3–5 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables begin to soften.
Add potatoes, chicken broth, parsley, and salt and pepper, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer gently until the vegetables are just tender, about 10–12 minutes.
Add cod fillets, and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Continue cooking over low heat for an additional 5 minutes or until the fish is white and flakes easily with a fork in the thickest part (to a minimum internal temperature of 145 °F).
Serve each cod fillet with 1½ cups broth and vegetables.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Nutrition and Food Services.
Roasted Beet Borscht
Serves 8 · Recipe from VA (VHA Nutrition and Food Services) · Original recipe
Ingredients
1 pound beets (about 2-3 medium beets), cut into 1-inch chunks
½ teaspoon salt, divided
½ teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 large carrots, chopped (about 2 cups)
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon)
½ teaspoon dried thyme
6 cups (48 ounces) low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar or honey
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill (about ½ ounce)
½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1 medium tart-flavored apple (e.g. Granny Smith), cored and finely chopped (about 1 cup)
Steps
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
On a baking sheet, toss the beets with 2 tablespoons of the oil, ¼ teaspoon of the salt, and ¼ teaspoon of the black pepper. Roast until tender, about 30-40 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat a large pot over medium heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and heat until shimmering.
Add the carrots, onion, the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, about 10 minutes.
Add the garlic and thyme. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the broth and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer.
Cook until the carrots are tender, about 15-20 minutes.
Transfer the beets to a blender, along with the carrots, onion, and enough broth to fill the blender about halfway.
Remove the plastic piece from the center of the blender lid and place a towel over the hole. Blend until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
Return the pureed mixture to the pot and stir in the vinegar and sugar or honey. Reheat over the stovetop if needed.
In a small mixing bowl, stir together the yogurt and dill.
Serve warm or chill before serving, topping each serving with 1 tablespoon of the yogurt-dill mixture and 2 tablespoons of the chopped apple.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Nutrition and Food Services.
Slow Cooker-Poached Eggs and Salmon
Serves 2 · Recipe from VA (VHA Nutrition and Food Services) · Original recipe
Ingredients
Water
Nonstick cooking spray
2 eggs
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, divided
2 (4-ounce) salmon fillets
4 cups fresh spinach (about 4 ounces, or 1 cup frozen spinach)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted, divided
2 teaspoons lemon juice, divided
2 pinches (about ⅛ teaspoon) salt, divided
2 pinches (about ⅛ teaspoon) ground black pepper, divided
Steps
Fill a medium saucepan about halfway full with water and bring to a boil.
Meanwhile, coat the inside of two oven-safe ramekins or other small dishes with nonstick cooking spray. Crack an egg into each dish and top each with 1 tablespoon of the chives.
Set the egg dishes in the bottom of a slow cooker, then add the salmon fillets on either side.
Pour the boiling water into the slow cooker until it comes about halfway up the sides of the egg dishes – be careful not to get any water in the egg cups.
Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on high for 1 hour. Check for doneness and, if needed, cook for an additional 10-15 minutes.
Use oven mitts to carefully remove the egg dishes. Then lift the salmon out with a slotted spatula or spoon. Set aside.
Add the spinach to the slow cooker and stir into the water until wilted, about 3-4 minutes. Drain or lift out of the slow cooker with tongs and divide between two plates.
Add ½ tablespoon of the melted butter to each portion of spinach. Toss to combine. Top each portion with one of the salmon fillets.
Use a butter knife to loosen the eggs from the dishes and place each on top of the salmon.
Sprinkle each plate with 1 teaspoon of the lemon juice, 1 pinch of the salt, and 1 pinch of the black pepper. Serve warm.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Nutrition and Food Services.
Baked Salmon Dijon
Serves 6 · Recipe from NHLBI (NIH) (Deliciously Healthy Dinners) · Original recipe
Ingredients
1 C fat-free sour cream
2 tsp dried dill
3 Tbsp scallions (green onions), rinsed and finely chopped
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1½ lb salmon fillet, cut into 6 portions (4 oz each)
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp ground black pepper
Cooking spray
Steps
Preheat oven to 400 °F.
Whisk sour cream, dill, scallions, mustard, and lemon juice in a small bowl to blend.
Lightly coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Place salmon, skin side down, on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with garlic powder and pepper, then spread with sauce.
Bake salmon fillets until each is opaque in the center and flakes easily with a fork in the thickest part, about 20 minutes (to a minimum internal temperature of 145 °F).
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Crispy Baked Cod
Serves 4 · Recipe from VA (VHA Nutrition and Food Services) · Original recipe
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
4 (4-ounce) cod fillets
1 egg
3 tablespoons cornmeal
3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon dried dill
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Steps
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper and set aside.
Pat the cod dry with paper towels.
Crack the egg into a shallow dish and beat lightly with a fork. Set aside.
In another shallow dish, combine the cornmeal, flour, parmesan, garlic powder, paprika, dill, and black pepper. Set aside.
One fillet at a time, dip the cod in the beaten egg and then dip in the cornmeal mixture, covering both sides. Shake off any excess coating and lay the breaded cod on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake until the cod flakes easily with a fork and is golden-brown (minimal internal temperature of 145°F), about 10-15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Nutrition and Food Services.
Homemade Turkey Soup
Serves 16 · Recipe from NHLBI (NIH) (Stay Young At Heart) · Original recipe
Ingredients
1 turkey carcass—it should have some meat (at least 2 C) remaining
2 medium onions
3 stalks of celery
1 tsp dried thyme
½ tsp dried rosemary
½ tsp dried sage
1 tsp dried basil
½ tsp dried marjoram
½ tsp dried tarragon
½ tsp salt
Ground black pepper, to taste
½ lb Italian pastina or other small pasta
Steps
Place turkey carcass in a large 6-quart pot. Cover with water, at least ¾ full.
Peel onions, cut into large pieces, and add to pot. Wash celery stalks, slice, and add to pot as well.
Simmer, covered, for about 2 ½ hours.
Remove carcass from pot. Cool soup in the refrigerator (hint: divide soup into smaller, shallower containers for quicker cooling).
While soup is cooling, remove remaining meat from turkey carcass. Discard bones and cut meat into bite-sized pieces.
After soup has cooled, skim off fat from top. Return soup to pot.
Add turkey meat to skimmed soup, along with herbs and spices.
Bring to a boil and add pastina. Continue cooking on low boil for about 20 minutes, until pastina is done. Serve at once or refrigerate for later reheating.
Per serving: Calories: 226Fat: 5 gSodium: 217 mg
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Lemony Pan-Seared Fish with Wilted Kale
Serves 1 · Recipe from VA (VHA Nutrition and Food Services) · Original recipe
1½ teaspoons chopped fresh dill (or ½ teaspoon dried)
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
2 cups chopped or shredded kale, stems removed
Steps
Cut the lemon in half lengthwise. Juice one of the halves into a small bowl. Cut the other half into four wedges. Set the lemon juice and lemon wedges aside.
On a clean plate or other surface (e.g. cutting board), pat the fish dry with paper towels, then season it evenly on both sides with the seasoning blend and chopped dill.
Preheat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add ½ tablespoon of the oil to the pan.
Add the fish and cook on the first side until browned, about 2-4 minutes.
Turn the fish over and heat until cooked through and flakes easily with a fork, about 4-6 minutes.
Transfer the fish to a clean plate and cover with foil.
Add the remaining ½ tablespoon of oil to the pan.
Add the kale and cook until wilted, about 2-4 minutes.
Add the lemon juice and stir to combine.
Transfer the kale to the plate with the fish and serve warm, squeezing on additional lemon juice as desired.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Nutrition and Food Services.
Roasted Beets with Orange Sauce
Serves 4 · Recipe from NHLBI (NIH) (Deliciously Healthy Dinners) · Original recipe
Ingredients
1½ lb small beets, leaves trimmed, each peeled and cut into four chunks
1 tsp olive oil
1 orange, rinsed (for peel and juice)
½ tsp anise seeds (optional)
Steps
Preheat oven to 450 °F. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
In a medium bowl, toss the beets with the olive oil until well coated.
Spread beets on baking sheet in a single layer.
Bake 30–40 minutes. When done, beets should be easily pierced with a sharp knife.
While beets bake, grate the zest from the orange. Place in a small bowl. Cut the orange in half. Squeeze the juice (about ½ cup) into the bowl with the orange zest. (Use a large spoon to press the inside of the orange to extract more juice.) Add anise seeds (optional). Set aside.
When the beets are tender, return them to the tossing bowl. Pour the juice mixture over the beets. Mix well to coat, and serve.
How this diet is defined here: Healthy Nordic diet (NORDIET) as defined in Adamsson et al. 2011, J Intern Med (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20964740/), consistent with the Nordic diet scores pooled in the site's evidence (Jalilpiran 2022)