Slovenia Issues Dietary Guidelines That Link Nutrition, Health, and Sustainability
by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
Slovenia, a country in central Europe, has developed dietary guidelines that raise the bar for other countries. The Slovenian Nutrition Guidelines 2025 (1) were developed using strong and current scientific evidence about sustainable, healthy diets. These guidelines were published on May 22, 2026. One of their special features is their focus on environmental factors including greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water use (2). They also incorporate cultural diversity and accessibility (2). The goals of these guideline are a reduced risk of chronic diseases, a reduction in the environmental effects of dietary choices, and improved access to healthy food (2).
The guidelines were created for Slovenian adults. They were developed under the auspices of the Ministry of Health by a group of experts in nutrition, medicine, public health, pharmacy, environmental science, agriculture, and information science (1). Following their development, they were peer reviewed and public input was solicited (1).
The diet that the Slovenian Nutrition Guidelines 2025 recommends is described as plant-forward (2). It emphasizes vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and unsaturated oils. Low to moderate amounts of seafood, poultry, dairy, and eggs are “allowed.” Red and processed meats, refined grains, saturated fat, salt, added sugar, ultraprocessed foods, and alcohol are kept to a minimum.
The guidelines include three plate models (like MyPlate which is used in the United States). The models are whole food/plant-based (vegan emphasizing whole or minimally processed plant foods); vegetarian; and Mediterranean (2). All of these patterns have been shown to have positive effects on human and environmental health (2). The cost of the patterns is similar when they are based on seasonal, local, and minimally processed foods and are said to be feasible for even low-income households (2).
Vitamin B12 supplements are required for the vegan approach and are recommended for vegetarians unless they consistently use fortified foods (2). Vitamin D supplements are recommended for all diet types from September to May. Vegans and vegetarians are recommended to use microalgae-derived omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA (2).
These guidelines stand in contrast to the most recent U.S. dietary guidelines which have been criticized for their connection to the meat and dairy industry and which call for eating more protein foods from animal sources, full-fat dairy products, and beef tallow (3). The current U.S. Dietary Guidelines do not prioritize sustainability and they contain inaccurate information about vegan diets (4).
Future committees tasked to develop dietary guidelines for the United States and other countries could learn a lot from the Slovenian Nutrition Guidelines 2025.
References
- Fidler Mis N, Bavec M, Jakse B, et al. Eating for Health and the Planet: Slovenian Nutrition Guidelines 2025 – Scientific Evidence Base. Ljubliana: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food of the Republic of Slovenia; Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia; Ministry for Environment, Climate and Energy of the Republic of Slovenia. https://prehranskesmernice.si/Eating_for_health_and_the_planet.pdf. 2026.
- Mis NF, Jakše B, Kreft S, et al. Three-tier plate, triple win: Health, sustainability, and equity in the Slovenian Nutrition Guidelines 2025. Foods. 2026;15:656.
- Mangels R. 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans released: Many reasons to be concerned. https://www.vrg.org/blog/2026/01/22/2025-2030-dietary-guidelines-for-americans-released/. 2026.
- Mangels R. What do the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans say about vegan diets? https://www.vrg.org/blog/2026/02/06/what-do-the-2025-2030-dietary-guidelines-for-americans-say-about-vegan-diets/. 2026.
To read more about Dietary Guidelines see:
What are Some Examples of Confusing Advice in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans?
What do the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans say about vegan diets?
2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Released
VRG Testimony on 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines
What Have the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Said About Vegan and Vegetarian Diets?
2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Released
Mexican 2023 Dietary Guidelines Recommend that 92% of our Plate be Plant Foods
Do International Dietary Guidelines Promote Vegan/Vegetarian Diets?
