The United States Department of Agriculture says twice a week, make seafood the protein on your plate. Increase the amount and variety of seafood consumed by choosing seafood in place of some meat and poultry.
Yesterday I ate fish twice. That is more than almost 80 percent of Americans eat in an entire week. And the effects are starting to show. A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition reveals that most 4-8 year olds (78-90 percent, depending on which recommendation you go by) who eat a typical North American diet are deficient in fish-based omega-3s (DHA+EPA).
Unfortunately, this makes perfect sense. Fish-based omega-3s are "essential nutrients," meaning that the body doesn't make them and they must come from food. So if you don't eat fish on a regular basis, your body doesn't have adequate levels of fish-based omega-3s (DHA+EPA). Here is a press release explaining this straightforward concept in more detail.
The news is a bit of a bummer, but if it has the positive effect of inspiring moms and dads of 4-8 year olds out there to serve fish this weekend, here's the perfect starter sandwich - tuna with avocado on whole wheat bread. It's creamy, and mild, and bright green! I whipped it up for lunch yesterday and added nothing more to the tuna and avocado than a splash of olive oil and sprinkle of salt and pepper.
For dinner, we had Leek and Pea Risotto with Grilled Calamari. It was creamy and mild as well, with a hint of bright green. But I didn't exactly whip it up - the risotto is a little stir-intensive.
No set plans for tonight, but I do have my first Hawaiian haircut this afternoon. Well overdue. And Sunday is the grand opening of the very first Target on Oahu (also well overdue), so a bunch of us girls are getting together for a brunch celebration. Should be fun.
I am a registered dietitian with the National Fisheries Institute, so fish is my nutrition forte. I earned my BA in Communication from Southwestern University, just outside of Austin, TX. During college, one of my very favorite evening outings was a leisurely trip to the grocery market. My passion for food was undeniable, so I combined both of my interests by earning my MS in Nutrition Communication from Tufts University in Boston, MA. As well as my Registered Dietitian (RD) credential through the University of Delaware.
Beyond reading scientific studies about docosahexaenoic acid and selenium, I love to entertain, travel, watch reality TV, grill outdoors, and go to spin class. I live in Kailua, HI on the island of Oahu where my husband serves as a US Marine Corps JAG.
People in Hawaii eat more fish and shellfish than average, but over 80 percent of typical Americans don't eat seafood at least twice per week. Doctors and dietitians like me say that's the goal, so BlogAboutSeafood is here to show you just what plenty of seafood looks like in an RD's real-life diet.
Photo by Marco Garcia
