Over the past 30 years the diet in Norway has developed favourably in many ways, with the average diet being healthy in many respects. Important changes during this period include a reduction in the intake of saturated fats and trans fats, accompanied by an increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
However, from a health perspective, large segments of the population still eat too many foods with a high content of saturated fats, sugar and salt, and not enough foods rich in nutrients, such as whole grain breads and vegetables.
The National Council for Nutrition’s vision is a healthy diet for lifelong good health. Health challenges related to diet and trends in eating habits form the basis for the following dietary goals in Norway:
- increased intake of vegetables, fruits, berries and whole-grain products;
- reduced intake of solid fats (saturated fats and trans fats);
- reduced intake of energy-dense, nutrient poor foods.
These strategic goals will contribute to the reduction of the incidence of cardiovascular disease and the prevalence of diet-related cancer, and stop the increase in overweight and obesity. The course of action chosen to attain these goals is to facilitate healthy choices and increase general knowledge about food, diet and health. One primary objective for work in the nutrition sector is to reduce social disparities in health.
To achieve these goals, the National Council for Nutrition will focus on the following high priority target areas and actions:
Strategic actions to facilitate healthy choices
- decreased prices of fruits and vegetables;
- increasedpricesofenergy-dense,nutrient poorfoods;
- restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods to children and adolescents.
Strategic actions in educational institutions
- provide free fruits and vegetables in day care centres and schools;
- liensure basic knowledge of nutritional concepts;
- ensure basic cooking skills;
- ensure teacher competence
Strategic actions in the health and social services sector
- intensify nutrition efforts in prenatal health services, children’s health clinics, school health services, nursing and care services, and primary and specialist health services;
- boost health personnel’s expertise in nutrition.
Increased focus on research and monitoring
- develop effective health-promoting and preventive actions;
- conduct regular studies of eating habits and dietrelated health and disease indicators in the population, monitoring height, weight, blood pressure and various blood parameters.
Effective communication strategies
- put more emphasis on communication to enhance the public’s knowledge about food, diet and health.
CONTeNTS
Preface
Contents
Summary
Introduction
Dietary trends in Norway
Nutrition and health
Vision
Strategic goals
Increased intake of fruits, vegetables, berries and whole-grain products
Reduced intake of solid fats (saturated fats and trans fats)
Reduced intake of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods
Proposed actions
Actions to facilitate healthy choices
Actions in day care centres and educational institutions
Actions in the health and social services sector
Research and monitoring
effective communication strategies
Conclusion: High priority target areas and follow-up
Key references
Statutes of the National Council for Nutrition
