In 1976, that’s 37 years ago, nutritionist Britt-Marie Dahlin at the food company Scan created the so-called “tallriksmodellen” (the model plate), by composing a circle with three parts for foods rich in protein, vitamins/minerals, and carbohydrates.
Livsmedelsverket (the National Food Agency) still uses this model as an illustration of a well-composed meal. The first part consists of potatoes, rice, pasta, bulgur, or bread, the second part of veggies and root vegetables, and the last one is for meat, fish, egg and legumes. The first two parts ought to make up for 40% each, and the third one 20%.

However Dahlin herself is critical today, saying we are more sedentary today and weigh more, and therefore should eat fewer potatoes, less pasta, and less rice. “It’s too much with three potatoes,” she says to daily SvD. “Now that we have a tendency to gain weight, we have to eat fewer carbs. But if we eat less, we must also eat more nutrient-rich vegetables and root vegetables so that we get the sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals.”