Cookbook: The Nordic Way, A Low GI Foods Menu Plan

I’m always on the hunt for an easy-to-follow diet to balance out my meals at home in-between indulgent food trips, and I think I’ve found it with the low-GI foods in The Nordic Way. It doesn’t really feel like a diet, but more of an easy-to-maintain lifestyle. For instance, there’s chocolate and other desserts — so, how could I possibly feel deprived?

I’ve been testing this cookbook for about three weeks now, making yummy things like hummus, homemade granola, and farro salad. The meals remind me of gourmet spa-food, are something I look forward to, and are filling enough that I find myself snacking less often. Overall, the low-GI foods and recipes in The Nordic Way include a nourishing, soul-satisfying meal plan led by science and influenced by Hygge. It simply feels good for you.

Weight Creep

The premise of The Nordic Way isn’t a weight-loss diet, but more of a way to maintain a healthy weight over a lifetime. While I consider myself to be fairly healthy and active, weight does tend to creep up over the years. Does this seem to happen to you? Personally, I’ve put on ten pounds since my wedding in 2012 (those are happy pounds, though, right?) and I seem to yo-yo up and down five pounds with every food-themed trip I go on. So, I really want to put the kibosh on this weight creep, stat.

Farro salad with lemon and berries.

Science-Based Nutrition 

As I mentioned above, the meal plan is based on science, with research from the International DiOGenes study. Now, if you google Diogenes, you might first find the Greek philosopher, Cynic, which I’m not sure is intentional, but I found it funny considering one of the authors was originally a vocal opponent of the low-GI foods concept.

DiOGenes is actually short for Diet and Obesety Genes, and is the world’s largest dietary study involving eight European countries. The findings concluded that eating more fruits and vegetables would slow the weight creep we all seem to be plagued by as we age. It’s not a diet to loose weight, but a meal plan to better maintain your current weight and overall health.

The authors of The Nordic Way include Arne Astrup, head of the Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports at the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen; Jennie Brand-Miller, Professor at the University Of Sydney; and Christian Bitz, research director at Herlev and Gentofte Hospitals in Denmark. Their combined experience create a nutritious, simple-to-follow meal plan in The Nordic Way.

Skyr with homemade granola on rye toast.

Low-GI Foods: Ideas and Recipes

The recipes are a delicious combination of low-GI foods that have a perfect carb-to-protein ratio. And not all the dishes are Nordic-influenced as there are some great Asian recipes too, like Soba Noodles with tofu, ginger, and peas. The cookbook includes a well balanced palate of flavor with easy-to-make Interntational cuisines. Every recipe seems to be done in 30 minutes or less, which I love since they’re such a time saver in the kitchen.

Two ingredients that are highlighted in multiple recipes are skyr and rye.  Skyr is a type of high protein Icelandic yogurt and I’m seeing it more often at our local grocers here in Florida. The Nordic Way cookbook also contains an easy recipe for making it at home by draining Greek yogurt with cheesecloth. I tried this, and it made the yogurt more dense and spreadable, which is great for toast.

Rye bread and crackers are both easily found at most grocery stores, but rye flour and rye berries I had to order online. So, definitely plan to stock up your pantry before getting started.

The Nordic Way Cookbook Giveaway

Want to try out the cookbook for yourself? We’re doing a giveaway!
Nordic Way Cookbook Giveaway

Official Rules

• No purchase necessary.
• U.S. Residents Only.
• Giveaway Opens 4/28/17 and closes 5/5/17.
• 1 prize will be awarded by Penguin Random House, The Nordic Way Cookbook, valued at $15, odds of winning dependent on number of entries.
• Winner will be randomly selected using Gleam, determination of winner will be made 5/6/17.
• Giveaway winner will be notified via email, and given 48 hours to respond. If no response, another winner will be selected.
• Giveaway winner will be listed here on this post by 5/30/17.

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