Food, nutrition, and health in Slovenia

Abstract Slovenia has one of the richest food traditions in Europe, encompassing a wide variety of foods maintained for centuries and still forming everyday and festive menus. The tastes of Slovenia are different in the Alps than they are on the Adriatic coast, and different in the Karst Region than in the Pannonian Plain. Each region has its own distinct gastronomic areas. Slovenia claims to offer 170 typical dishes. Despite the rich food tradition, common nutrition habits in the country are subjected to the modern lifestyle. The high intake of saturated fats and sugars, and low intake of fruits and vegetables are one of the food-related issues Slovenia is facing. Therefore, of high priority is the implementation of healthy nutrition and food safety education in the kindergarten and the primary school curricula.