A healthy and palatable 'New Nordic Diet' (NND) has been designed with the aim to improve public health in Denmark. In order to explore barriers and possibilities for acceptance of the NND by the wider population this study analyzes acceptance of the NND and a control diet labeled the 'Average Danish Diet' (ADD) among participants in a randomized controlled intervention study of the two diets' health effects. Based on questionnaires presented before (N= 197) and after (N= 147) the intervention, an eating acceptance index expressing eating qualities and a practical acceptance index expressing practical implications of the diet in everyday life were developed. Variations in practical and eating acceptance in relation to key background variables were explored.The NND had high eating acceptance and low practical acceptance when measured after the intervention. The ADD had low eating acceptance but high practical acceptance. NND participants already exhibiting healthy eating habits before the intervention showed the highest eating acceptance of the NND. The ADD had the highest eating acceptance among ADD participants exhibiting less healthy eating habits before the intervention. In spite of high eating acceptance, low practical acceptance may hinder broader public acceptance of the New Nordic Diet.