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.
There is actually a cookbook (or two) out there devoted entirely to this concept - hidden healthy ingredients. Some dietitians think this is the path of least resistance to getting kids (or finicky adults!) the nutrients they need; while others say there's nothing to hide, kids need to learn to like the taste of healthful foods. I feel there is room for both approaches. Most Americans need to eat so many more fruits, veggies, fish, etc. than they do that we should jam them in wherever they fit, openly or concealed. Beyond savory sauces like the marinara I made, fish isn't the likeliest candidate to slip through the cracks. But here are some great ideas from parent-chefs across the country about how to add kid-friendly tastes and textures (sweet, buttery, burger-shaped, etc.)...
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
