At Strandholmen nursing home in Nordmaling, south of Umeå, Eva Brodersen works with people living with severe dementia.
Originally from Bodø in northern Norway, Eva has lived and worked in Sweden for the past 13 years. During that time, she has learned what really matters when appetite fades and words disappear. And surprisingly, it is often a svele that gets through:
- In the summer heat, when there’s no appetite, it’s the sveler that work. When they want something sweet but won’t eat cake or bread with jam. Even those who refuse food will still eat sveler. It’s almost a bit magical, says Eva, who has introduced Fjord1 sveler to all eight departments she has worked in.
A taste that reaches through
For many residents, everyday life can be marked by restlessness, confusion and loss of abilities. Eating enough is often a challenge. But the smell of freshly made sveler, their soft taste and texture, can make a difference.
- When life is nearing its end and they won’t eat, a piece of svele might be the one thing they accept.
Today, sveler have become a natural part of daily life at the nursing home:
- Both residents and staff ask for them. Sitting together around the table, enjoying sveler that taste good, helps calm people and reduces stress.
Eva says the recipe has been her go-to for many years. Before moving to Sweden, she worked in a café where she also used Fjord1’s recipe.
- Customers loved them and kept coming back – just like the patients here. Everyone loves Fjord1 sveler, even my dogs, she says with a smile.
In Sweden, she often serves the sveler with jam.
A shared language
Sveler have become part of the community at the nursing home. They are served on birthdays, small celebrations, and in everyday situations when needed.
- There’s something about sveler that brings people together. They are simple, good, and inclusive – just like the best moments in everyday life.
Kind thoughts by the griddle
For Eva, it’s not just about a good recipe. It’s about care, respect, and the small things that make a difference.
- I often send a warm thought to Fjord1, especially when someone asks me to make sveler. I see the effect they have on people.
She also highlights something practical:
- Making sveler is very time-efficient in a busy healthcare setting. Compared to waffles, for example, I can make many more sveler in the same amount of time.
Would you like to make Fjord1 svele as well?
We're happy to share the recipe for Norway's best svele with you.