Are You Eating Enough Fish?

When you think about what to make for dinner, is fish one of the options? It should be. Fish is one of the best natural sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which your body cannot produce and can be obtained only from food. Fish is especially important for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers because of the role it plays in infant brain and eye development (along with the heart-health benefits for moms). It’s unfortunate that many parents avoid feeding fish to their children because of misinformation and unnecessary fears about safety.

Years ago, concerns about the presence of mercury in fish put many people off this exceedingly nutritious food. However, hundreds of studies now show that the health benefits of eating fish and the powerful nutrients it contains far outweigh any potential risk. Fish is affordable, satisfying, a splendid source of protein, and should be included in any healthy diet, at least, a couple of times per week.

Seafood provides not only protein and omega-3 fatty acids but also a host of other essential nutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin D, iron, and selenium. It contributes not only to heart and brain health but also to a healthy weight and overall physical health.

Most people do not eat anywhere near the recommended amounts of seafood. If you’re among them, don’t worry – it’s easier than you might think to add more fish to your diet. Try substituting any other meat for fish, such as in fish tacos or by adding fish to a pasta dish. Fish is easy to prepare and cooks quickly, so you can serve it as the main course of a weeknight dinner, a weekend brunch, or even as a pack-ahead lunch. And it’s surprisingly versatile – besides the tacos and pasta as mentioned earlier, you can also add it to rice, salad, or any number of other healthy dishes.

Hate fish? You can still usually manage to consume more of it. Try mild fish such as flounder, catfish, or tilapia. Shrimp is often palatable even to those who don’t like the taste of fish. You can also disguise the flavour of your fish with other strong flavours, spices, or sauces. Finally, try grilling fish outdoors; this gives it a different savour than baking or broiling and keeps the fishy smell out of your kitchen.