MyPyramid says most meat and poultry choices should be lean or low-fat. Fish, nuts, and seeds contain healthy oils, so choose these foods frequently instead of meat or poultry.
Just as I was saying I missed my family two weeks ago on my birthday, I found out I would be taking a last-minute trip to my home state of Texas for work. The Legislature is considering an unsettling bill that would require warning signs by fish in grocery stores, so I flew in to give testimony about my concerns. I got pressed on the health benefits of seafood, especially during pregnancy, and gave the best science-based answers I could. It was my first experience with state government, and I soaked every minute up like a sponge. Policy is fascinating, exciting, and frustrating all at once. Getting to spend time with my parents and sisters was a nice contrast to the high-pressure testimony. And, of course, I got to eat some tasty Texas food. While in Austin, I had possibly the best fish tacos of my life at Roaring Fork. They were deconstructed, so I got to make every bite to my specifications using a combination of lettuce, avocado, salsa, cheesy black beans, fish, lime, and a creamy sauce.
Once back in Dallas, I went to a sports bar with my family to watch the Mavs game. With all my travel lately, I haven't always been super hungry at meal times, so I just made myself a small tasting plate from what everyone else ordered. My sister had a rich havarti, pine nuts, and shrimp pizza; her boyfriend had salmon; and my mom had a pulled pork Cuban sandwich.
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
