'When The Boat Comes In...'

Why fish can be a nutritious part of a balanced diet, and some recipes to get you started.

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Despite the UK being an island, fish makes up just a small part of our diet — in fact the UK exports most of its catch. Yet fish, whether lean white fish or fatty fish rich with omega3s, can make a valuable and nutritious contribution to our diet.

Seafish (seafish.org) has launched a campaign to get us eating “seagan”; i.e. combining sea fish with a plant-based diet. “Think Seagan” has a variety of downloadable materials suggesting tasty and innovative ways to consume and enjoy fish, including: a starter kit; a 28day meal plan; recipes including how-to videos; and a store cupboard guide. There is also a range of educational tools, such as seafood fact and myth sheets.

Marcus Coleman, chief executive of Seafish, said: “The health benefits of eating seafood are well documented and coupled with the benefits of a plant-based diet, seaganism presents a sustainable, tasty and flexible diet for people of all ages and stages of life.

“Our Think Seagan campaign will inspire and educate those looking to make changes to their diet.”

Juliette Kellow, a dietitian and nutrition consultant, said: “Government advice recommends that at least two thirds of what we eat should be based on plant foods. But government also recommends that we consume two portions of fish each week, one of which should be an oily fish such as mackerel, sardines or herring. This is in part because they are full of essential omega-3 fatty acids, which help the heart to work normally and maintain normal blood pressure and blood triglyceride levels. One of the omega-3 fats found naturally in fish (DHA) is also important for maintaining normal brain function and vision.”

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