MyPlate Recommendation

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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.

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Texas fish

Pecan-encrusted fish

This last weekend was all about fish in Texas for me. On Friday, I saw the Fort Worth Star-Telegram – the newspaper my family in Keller, Texas subscribes to – printed a letter to the editor regarding advice for moms about eating fish that I had to respond to. This issue is near and dear to my heart, as I spend the lion’s share of my time at work keeping up with the latest science about seafood during pregnancy. So I know the ins and outs of just how critical the nutrients in fish are for moms and babies. And I know that unfortunately about 80 percent of moms aren’t eating enough fish to reap the benefits, which range from optimal brain development for babies to possible prevention of post-partum depression for moms. Part of the reason is scary media sound bites from non-health professionals, just like Friday’s letter. Remember, one of my premier health tips is to only listen to health tips from credentialed experts.

On Saturday, I was in Texas. We took a quick trip for my fiancé’s best friend’s wedding. It was a blast catching up with old college pals over good food and drink. I enjoyed a yummy pecan-encrusted fish fillet for dinner that I want to try and recreate at home this week. I’m not sure exactly what specie it was, but tilapia, snapper, or catfish would all work great.

About Jennifer

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

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