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Jennifer Bushman
Sustainable Seafood Advocate and Consultant, jenniferbushman.com
Seafoods are nutritional powerhouses! They provide a variety of vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are important nutrients for supporting heart health. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), eating seafood is especially important for pregnant or nursing women and moms with young children, as it also helps brain growth and supports cognitive development. Foods from the ocean–when sustainably caught or farmed responsibly–also bring benefits to the environment. Sustainably-sourced fish can have a much lower carbon footprint and use less resources than other land-based protein options. Seaweed can sequester carbon, help in combating climate change, and filter sea water, while shellfish like oysters filter 52% of the water they live in on a daily basis! By keeping an eye out for items marked with labels from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for wild-caught seafood and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) for farmed, you’ll be able to find seafoods that protect vulnerable ocean resources and minimize the impact on the environment. That’s seafood that’s good for you and the ocean, too.
When it comes to the fridge, smoked fish, seafood dips, and pasteurized crab (which can be added to dishes like warmed corn tortillas, omelets, and soups or served with crackers or bread) are fantastic options. If you’re buying fresh fish, always look for the MSC blue fish label displayed on the fish case or ask your fishmonger to know it is certified sustainable. I love buying fresh tuna steaks and making these “Yellowfin Tuna Skewers with Curry Sauce and Maple Glazed Butternut Squash.”
“Frozen” is the new “fresh”! Improvements in freezing technology over the last few decades means that quality is preserved for optimal freshness. While you might be concerned that frozen seafood would be compromised in terms of flavor or texture, these days, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference. Plus, seafood is frozen at its peak, so you get optimal “freshness.” Try this “Provencal Style Cod with Cannellini Beans and Tomato”–the cod is from Norway’s Arctic Cod Fishery, which is MSC certified! Just look for the MSC blue fish to know it’s good for you and the planet.
Tinned, canned, pouched, and jarred seafoods are amazing staples. Starring simply the fish or shellfish in their pure form (perhaps with olive oil or salt), they’re delicious and ready at a moment’s notice. I like to keep canned clams and dry seaweed pasta in the pantry for a “Seaweed Pasta with White Clam Sauce & Parsley” dinner that can be on the table in minutes.
Certified sustainable seafood bearing the MSC blue fish label helps to promote healthy oceans. Learn more about #FeelGoodSeafood that's good for you and the ocean too.
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