Why we should ALL be following the Scandi lifestyle for a happy, healthier life (and this stunning blogger is walking proof that it really works)
- Faya Nilsson, 30, grew up on a farm in Karlskrona in the south of Sweden
- Now lives in London has has hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers
- Has penned a book revealing how to live like a Scandi
- Shares her best diet, fitness and lifestyle tips with FEMAIL
They brought us hygge - the creation of a cosy atmosphere - and lagom - adopting a frugal approach to life - and now it seems that we are going to be going full Scandi with our entire lifestyle.
Indeed, the Scandi lifestyle is one of the healthiest and happiest in the world. Need proof? Just look to fitness blogger Faya Nilsson, who has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers and penned a book sharing the secrets of her hometown.
Faya, 30, who runs the hugely popular Fitness on Toast site, grew up on a farm in a small town in the south of Sweden called Karlskrona, then spent her teenage years in Stockholm, before moving to London just under 10 years ago.
Faya believes that Scandinavian healthy eating and the active lifestyle is quite of-the-moment - and there's plenty of benefits we can reap.
![The Scandi lifestyle is one of the healthiest and happiest in the world. Need proof? Just look to fitness blogger Faya Nilsson, 30, who lives in London, and has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers and penned a book sharing the secrets of her hometown](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207001427/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/16/3CC3A42C00000578-4184786-The_Scandi_lifestyle_is_one_of_the_healthiest_and_happiest_in_th-a-27_1486054714105.jpg)
The Scandi lifestyle is one of the healthiest and happiest in the world. Need proof? Just look to fitness blogger Faya Nilsson, 30, who lives in London, and has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers and penned a book sharing the secrets of her hometown
![Faya, 30, who runs the hugely popular Fitness on Toast site, grew up on a farm in a small town in the south of Sweden called Karlskrona](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207001427/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/16/3CC3A40F00000578-4184786-Faya_30_who_runs_the_hugely_popular_Fitness_on_Toast_site_grew_u-a-28_1486054725102.jpg)
Faya, 30, who runs the hugely popular Fitness on Toast site, grew up on a farm in a small town in the south of Sweden called Karlskrona
'In Sweden there’s an intimate connection to nature – a devotion to an active outdoorsy lifestyle and one which, combined with the national diet, you can quite easily apply to your own lifestyle,' she told FEMAIL.
'It’s the formula of an outdoorsy active lifestyle, a national diet of fresh fish, and an appreciation of all things baked!
'The social system is fair and inclusive, we have great healthcare and excellent schools, and people are encouraged to spend time with their families. All things in moderation is very much our ethos.'
Explaining the ethos behind the lifestyle, she said: 'Thanks to long, dark winters (much like the UK) we get inventive and make the most of what’s available.
'A key part of why Swedes are so frugal is the "waste not want not" ethos – meaning recipes are affordable and dinners can easily be taken to work the next day or frozen - but are never binned.
The food relies on what she calls "smart flavour", loaded with fresh herbs and spices which are flavour-rich but low in calories.
![She has penned a book all about the benefits of the lifestyle. She explains that it covers the holy trinity of a healthy life, including mindfulness, nutrition and activity. 'Through my 10 years as a personal trainer, I've found that pursuing all three together is the only way to see sustainable success, and is such a simple formula to apply. Literally anyone can do it and you don't have to be fit to get started. The Scandi component of it stems from our national ethos and cooking methods, and makes it a little more fun and fresh to stay on track,' she said](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207001427/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/16/3CC3A41500000578-4184786-She_has_penned_a_book_all_about_the_benefits_of_the_lifestyle_Sh-a-29_1486054741779.jpg)
She has penned a book all about the benefits of the lifestyle. She explains that it covers the holy trinity of a healthy life, including mindfulness, nutrition and activity. 'Through my 10 years as a personal trainer, I've found that pursuing all three together is the only way to see sustainable success, and is such a simple formula to apply. Literally anyone can do it and you don't have to be fit to get started. The Scandi component of it stems from our national ethos and cooking methods, and makes it a little more fun and fresh to stay on track,' she said
![Scrambled eggs with herbs, potatoes with herbs and berries](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207001427/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/03/07/3CC3A41B00000578-4184786-Scrambled_eggs_with_herbs_potatoes_with_herbs_and_berries-a-1_1486108787388.jpg)
![Baked salmon topped with kale and goat's cheese on a bed of home made tomato sauce with broccoli and zucchini](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207001427/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/03/07/3CC3A69A00000578-4184786-Baked_salmon_topped_with_kale_and_goat_s_cheese_on_a_bed_of_home-a-2_1486108787527.jpg)
Left: Scrambled eggs with herbs, potatoes with herbs and berries. Right: Baked salmon topped with kale and goat's cheese on a bed of home made tomato sauce with broccoli and zucchini
She adds that it's all about balance. 'The Nordic cake obsession is a real phenomenon and something that I adore about the national diet – Swedes celebrate the tradition of ‘fika’ (a word without translation that means 'to go for a coffee and cake with a friend and catch up').
'We're total cake snobs and take baking very seriously. Demonising ingredients won’t lead to sustainable equilibrium – everything in moderation, so I've long used this as part of my long-term balanced lifestyle pursuit.'
![Faya's healthy fishcake dish with a delicious kale and quinoa salad](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207001427/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/16/3CC3A43A00000578-4184786-Faya_s_healthy_fishcake_dish_with_a_delicious_kale_and_quinoa_sa-a-32_1486054766157.jpg)
Faya's healthy fishcake dish with a delicious kale and quinoa salad
![Faya meets lots of famous faces through her job, including Davina McCall](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207001427/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/16/3CC3A42400000578-4184786-Faya_meets_lots_of_famous_faces_through_her_job_including_Davina-a-33_1486054776740.jpg)
![Faya with Stella McCartney, right](http://web.archive.org./web/20170207001427/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/16/3CC3A42800000578-4184786-Faya_with_Stella_McCartney_right-a-34_1486054786715.jpg)
Faya meets lots of famous faces through her job, including Davina McCall, left, and Stella McCartney, right
Fit in 3: The Scandi Plan by Faya Nilsson published by Sphere out now.
Most watched News videos
- Melissa McCarthy nails screeching Sean Spicer on SNL
- Video shows French police 'assault 22-year-old with truncheon'
- Tom Brady reflects on record-breaking fifth Super Bowl win
- Alec Baldwin mocks Trump and his Australia phone call
- Hyundai films Super Bowl commercial DURING Super Bowl
- Trump awkwardly avoids holding Melania's hand in Florida
- McThuggets! Brawl breaks out in McDonald's as thugs leap over counter
- Police arrest Chanel Lewis for the murder of Karina Vetrano
- Drones form Stars and Stripes during Lady Gaga half time show
- Coca-Cola reprises 2014 commercial about diversity at Super Bowl
- Adorable Xia Vigor sings her heart out to Ariana Grande
- Girl is thrown from theme park ride and dies in China
-
Hero flight attendant rescues teen from human trafficker...
-
Tom Brady breaks down in tears while hugging his...
-
Shame of Saint Becks: How taxman blocked David's...
-
JAN MOIR: Now we know the tawdry reality behind the...
-
Becksploitation! In their saccharine glory, the cloying...
-
It's the Brady bunch! Champion QB poses with entire...
-
Furious Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins hits back at David...
-
'Now your nightmare begins': Mother of murdered Queens...
-
'They've crossed over to mean': Sean Spicer slaps SNL...
-
'Reliable honest' husband who handed his wife, 51, all of...
-
Nigel Farage is EGGED as he hits the campaign trail for...
-
'It was not a way out. It was heartbreaking... the...