Almost every year there’s a new “it” diet that everyone seems to be doing that, allegedly, sheds all of the weight you gained over the holidays (and then some) and leaves you so vibrant and energized your co-workers will wonder if you’ve replaced all the blood in your body with coffee. Some of these diets are quite aggressive; cue the 5:2 British diet that makes you starve for 2 days (oh hell naw!). Some others are all about eating like a caveman (Paleo, duh).

Once in a while a less restrictive and more nourishing plan comes along. This is the case of the New Nordic Diet. I’m not saying it’s THE perfect diet, but it seems pretty approachable, whether you live in a pristine Scandinavian forest or in a crowded metropolis.

One of the things I like the most is that the NND seems like more of a lifestyle than a crazy in-your-face regime. The NND is not just about food, it’s also about your habits, your community, and the environment. Oprah would be so proud.

Developed by the chefs that amazed the world with the creation of Noma, this diet focuses on eating lots of berries, ocean foods (fish, seaweed), whole grains, fresh veggies (organic as much as possible), less meat and no processed foods with additives and/or sugars. So far so good, yes?

Portion control plays an important role in the NND – eating more whole grains and fiber will leave you satisfied and happy so you don’t need to stuff your face with protein bars every hour to keep your belly full. Basically, you can say goodbye to being hungry, parading around the office preaching that you’re “on a diet” while people whisper behind your back “is that why he looks so miserable?” You get what I’m saying.

The New Nordic Diet even has its own manifesto, which may seem a bit out there, but if you think about it, it makes sense; better food and an improved quality of life go hand-in-hand.

Now, I understand that not all of us have access to wild nordic berries and other freshly foraged foods (unless you’re a 21^st century Tom Sawyer) but you can adapt the principles to your region and lifestyle. For example, make your own bread with whole grains, drink fresh mint tea instead of a syrupy blended coffee (which is also cheaper), skip the steak and have some wild salmon for dinner. It’s all about little steps that lead us to bigger change.

The NND is still being studied for it’s health benefits, but people from all walks of life that have tried it are seeing the long-term benefits. There’s nothing worse than starving yourself for weeks and losing a bunch of weight only to gain it all back the minute you begin to re-introduce something back into your diet. And I mean come on, who doesn’t want to look like a hot viking? Amirite?

You can find a list of Nordic-approved foods here and a few recipes with more info over here.

Nyde! (that’s enjoy in Danish)