DIET APP
What’s different about Nordic Diet Coach? Our snap-happy selfie culture could help improve our diet using innovative new app
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BY LAUREL ALPER
he nutrition app, Nordic Diet Coach has proved so popular in Finland that it has already become one of the top selling apps since its launch in January 2014. It arrived in the UK in early January 2015 and is set to change the way we track our daily food intake.
your meals becomes part of a healthier lifestyle. Although many healthy eaters follow these type of guidelines, this app enables you to keep track of what and when you are eating.
Capturing the 'selfie' phenomenon, you provide a food 'selfie' where you photograph your meal, which the app then assesses and provides feedback on your choice. Your photographs are stored as a reminder of good and bad choices plus you receive text notifications to remind you to eat regularly and snack too. The idea is based on the Nordic Plate Diet; these are healthier dietary guidelines followed in Scandinavian countries and throughout Finland where the app was invented by Mia Karlsson. The concept came to Mia after she gained over 30lbs (approx. two stone) whilst pregnant, which she subsequently lost after giving birth. The Nordic diet advocates eating two fish portions a week plus two portions of white or red meat and upping vegetable and fruit intake. Processed and ready-made meals are discouraged along with sugary foods. It promotes eating seasonal and, where possible, locally sourced produce. The approach is a holistic one, where cooking from scratch and sitting down to enjoy
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According to studies, there are two reasons why we are overweight. The main culprit is irregular eating habits, for example, missing out breakfast and lunch then gorging ourselves at dinner time, probably with anything we can lay our hands on. The second is consuming higher calorie foods with oversized portions. This app encourages regular eating, not missing out on meals and concentrating your mind on the foods you are nourishing your body with. Mia said 'For the first time ever I finally feel I have a normal relationship with food, fitness and sugary treats. I wish everyone
struggling with their weight could get to where I am today. I had been working on some ideas before and I had learned that the core reason for being overweight is irregular eating patterns, which leads to overeating and oversized portions. It took me about year and a half to get back to my normal weight, but I felt that on my way back to the “old me”, I'd found a new way of eating that I've stuck with, whatever situation I'm in. I didn’t need to give up my favourite sweets or pizza and I allow myself other unhealthy snacks every now and then. The biggest change was to start eating five to six times a day, and paying more attention to the quality of the food I put on my plate.' This is a great app for those that need advice with portion sizes along with a helping hand keeping them on the straight and narrow. Why not take a look for yourself at www.nordicdietcoach.com
Laurel Alper has over 16 years experience within the health and fitness industry, as a personal trainer travelling around north west London as well as based in her private gym in Finchley. Find out more about Laurel at www.laurelalper.co.uk