The New Nordic Diet - from Gastronomy to Health

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/new-nordic-diet

Introduction

**Course Review: The New Nordic Diet - From Gastronomy to Health** In a world where food choices echo health trends, sustainability, and culinary pleasure, the course "The New Nordic Diet - from Gastronomy to Health" offered on Coursera stands out as a beacon of knowledge and innovative dietary practices. Developed by the OPUS Centre at the University of Copenhagen, alongside the remarkable minds behind the acclaimed restaurant Noma, this course delves into a contemporary food culture that seamlessly marries gastronomy with health while advocating environmental sustainability. ### Course Overview The New Nordic Diet, initiated between 2009 and 2013, promotes a holistic approach to eating by emphasizing the use of Nordic ingredients and culinary traditions adapted for global application. Through this course, participants explore how food can influence health and well-being and how a pleasurable eating experience is fundamental to embracing new dietary practices. ### Course Modules 1. **Developing a New Meal System** The introductory module offers a foundational understanding of the New Nordic Diet project. Participants will gain insights into the fundamental signatures and principles of this meal system. The blend of health, sustainability, and gastronomic enjoyment is intricately woven into the curriculum. The challenges related to adopting healthier dietary components are thoughtfully presented, led by experienced chefs and academic experts in the field. 2. **Development of the New Nordic Diet** Diving deeper into the evolution of the New Nordic Diet, this module contextualizes the dietary shift as tenets that promote well-being and combat lifestyle diseases. It encourages understanding of how and why the New Nordic Diet can be transformational beyond the scope of a typical meal plan. 3. **The OPUS School Meal Study** This module investigates an empirical examination of the New Nordic Diet in school settings, detailing how it influences academic performance, body composition, and the risk of chronic diseases among students. Participants learn firsthand about the comparative benefits of this dietary approach versus conventional school meal options. 4. **The OPUS Supermarket Intervention** Here, the focus transitions to adults, analyzing the effects of the New Nordic Diet in real-life scenarios within supermarket environments. Key topics delve into issues like food accessibility, cooking practices, and adherence to the diet, allowing participants to understand the practicalities and issues surrounding meal structuring and dietary compliance. 5. **Investigate the New Nordic Diet – from Food to Health** Culminating in an examination of the numerous studies showcasing health benefits linked to the New Nordic Diet, this module underscores the scientific backing of the dietary philosophy, providing participants with data-driven insights into how food choices translate to long-term health outcomes. ### Why You Should Enroll The course not only exhaustively covers the New Nordic Diet's theoretical foundations but also integrates practical implications for lifestyle changes. For health enthusiasts, culinary professionals, and those simply looking to improve their eating habits, this course serves as a transformative journey toward understanding the art of healthy and sustainable eating. From the immersive combination of culinary education and health sciences to the practicality of adopting new dietary habits in daily life, the course offers comprehensive knowledge that will benefit participants long after they complete it. The New Nordic Diet goes beyond just another fad diet; it redefines how we view and approach food, highlighting the interconnectedness of our eating habits with our health and the environment. Whether your goal is to enhance your personal diet or possibly share this enlightened approach with others, this course equips you with the knowledge and practical skills to do so effectively. In summary, I highly recommend "The New Nordic Diet - from Gastronomy to Health" for anyone keen on enhancing their understanding of healthy eating, exploring culinary traditions, or advocating for sustainability through diet. Enroll today to embark on a tasty and enlightening journey into the world of the New Nordic Diet!

Syllabus

Developing a New Meal System

In this first module you will be introduced to The New Nordic Diet project. You will hear about the background for the project, the definition of the signatures and principles behind which are considered to be fundamental of this new meal system. The New Nordic Diet is based on Nordic ingredients but is adaptable all over the world. It incompases both the health and well-being of the individual and environmental sustainability as well as the pleasure of eating. The challenges for accepting new healthy components of a New Nordic Diet will be illustrated too. Based on these principles leading chefs working with the Nordic kitchen and academic staffs from our university will guide you through this module’s lectures.

In this module we will investigate how the OPUS School Meal Study was designed and how the investigators examined the effect of the New Nordic Diet school meals on the well-being, development academic performance, body composition as well as their risk of developing lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. The study compared the New Nordic Diet with the current situation in schools (packed lunch from home and/or school canteens/small shops etc.).

In this module, we'll be looking at the effect of New Nordic Diet on adults. We will study the effect of eating the New Nordic Diet (NND) and an Average Danish Diet (ADD), respectively, in terms of body weight, body composition (fat) and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and type 2-diabetes. You will learn about problems, barriers and benefits associated with two types of diet, focusing in particular on shopping, cooking and eating, meal structure and diet composition. Moreover, drop-out rate and the subject’s compliance with the principles behind the diet are discussed.

In this last module's lectures we will concentrate on the health of the New Nordic Diet, focus on the effects published so far from four different studies and on the potential factors and foods affecting the outcomes.