Fiskesprell – a Norwegian food and nutrition programme

What is Fiskesprell?

Fiskesprell is a Norwegian national food and nutrition programme developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Care Services, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, and the Norwegian Seafood Council. Our work is grounded in the dietary guidelines of the Norwegian Directorate of Health, which highlight the health benefits of increased consumption of fish and other seafood, particularly for children and adolescents.

All our initiatives are developed in cooperation with the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Institute of Marine Research. The Norwegian Fishermen’s Sales Organisation also contributes financially. Fiskesprell's activities in kindergartens and after-school programmes are organised in cooperation with regional health authorities across Norway.

Our mission

Our mission is to increase seafood consumption among children and young people by making it a natural and enjoyable part of everyday life. We do this by inspiring and equipping the adults who shape children’s diets through knowledge, training and practical tools, while also engaging children themselves. Fiskesprell is a free public programme, open to all, and part of Norway’s broader public health efforts to promote healthier eating habits, ensure equal access to good food, and help reduce social inequalities in diet and health outcomes.

Our programmes

Fiskesprell primarily reaches children and young people through the adults around them. Our key approaches are:

Results and impact

Evaluations and feedback from kindergartens and schools show positive effects across several areas. Participation in Fiskesprell leads to increased use of seafood in meals, stronger focus on healthy food offerings, and improved knowledge and practical skills among staff and pupils. Adults report greater confidence and lower barriers to preparing seafood, which in turn results in more frequent serving of fish and seafood in everyday meals.

The programme also contributes to better eating habits beyond the kindergarten and school environment. Children gain positive food experiences through practical cooking activities, and these experiences are often brought home, helping to spread healthier dietary habits within families. Fiskesprell also shows potential in supporting more equal dietary habits by ensuring more children are introduced to seafood regardless of background.

Available evaluations (in Norwegian):

• Ipsos (2023) – Follow-up study to the Ipsos impact evaluation from 2020
• Ipsos (2020) – Impact evaluation of the national food and nutrition programme Fiskesprell