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Celebrating National Seafood Month Jeff Meagher
Seafood Feature
JEFF MEAGHER - Business Development Manager – Seafood & Center of the Plate
NATIONAL SEAFOOD MONTH A CATCH ABOVE THE REST
National Seafood Month is an annual designation observed in October. Where do we even start with this one?! People all over the world love seafood, and there are about a thousand different ways you can eat it… So really, it’s hard to get sick of. From smoked salmon to buttery lobster tails, to shrimp cocktail, to sushi… there’s a kind of seafood for just about everyone. The list goes on and on.
Humans feasting on seafood dates back long before written history. We know this because of early cave drawings. Since humans didn’t have the most efficient equipment back then, they used bird beaks and spears carved from wood and stone. Today, people in countries all over the world fish in dozens of different ways and have learned to love seafood in hundreds of different recipes. Besides being super tasty, eating fish and shellfish has major health benefits. To name a few:
1. Fish provide essential nutrients. The specifics depend on what kind of fish you’re eating, but to tell you the truth, there isn’t a kind that’s “bad” for you. They are a great natural source of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamins A, B, and D.
2. Seafood promotes heart health. It’s nutritious enough to be low in saturated fat and high in protein… but even better news for your heart, fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These can drastically reduce the risk of cardiovascular events like strokes, heart attacks, or sudden cardiac arrest.
3. It’s great for your joints! Those omega-3 fatty acids are good for easing tender joints and reducing that stiffness that comes when you roll out of bed in the morning.
4. If you want healthy, glowing skin… add a little more fish to your diet. Eating seafood helps your skin hold its natural moisture. Your skin glows more from what it naturally produces than what you rub on it! It can also help protect against UV rays from the sun.
5. Eating fish boosts your brainpower. Studies show that seafood omega-3’s could lower the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, and promote proper brain growth in infants and children.
6. Believe it or not, seafood can even help fight depression. Research shows a strong correlation between omega-3’s and decreasing depression… It helps people have a more positive outlook on life!
7. If you’re pregnant, eat fish for dinner once in a while. Experts say eating more fish has positive benefits on birth weight because it enhances fetal growth and development.
Okay, I was only going to name a few… but clearly fish have a lot to offer our bodies, and it was hard to keep the list short! It’s important to note that if you happen to be allergic to seafood, you can always take vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids in pill form, but health experts prefer you get these nutrients from food.
Celebrate National Seafood Month with promoting premium seafood options through PERFORMANCE Foodservice Atlanta. Promote customer awareness with chalk board specials and social media to support going out to your favorite restaurant, and or supporting your local Fish Monger (Seafood Shop). Here are a few great products and ideas:
The Fresh Catch® - Fresh Atlantic Salmon Our Fresh Catch Chilean Salmon are farmed but considered “Ocean-Raised™” Our farming areas, supplier and processes hold an industry reputation for premium quality and service with certifications including BAP, ISO 9001, ISO 14001. The Fresh Catch Chilean Salmon is raised and produced in a fully integrated, controlled environment from egg incubation in the hatchery to fillet and portion processing. Farmed Atlantic Salmon has among the highest Omega 3 content of all salmon. Scientific reports indicate that Omega 3 fatty acids may help reduce the risk of heart attack s and drive down LDL (bad) cholesterol. Farmed Atlantic Salmon is also a great source of protein, Vitamins A, B12 and D.
#454970 -1/ 10 LB - SALMON FILET SKIN-ON 2-3 LB #454977 - 1/ 10 LB - SALMON FILET SKIN-ON 3-4 LB
Empires Treasure® Wild Caught Dry Sea Scallops are among the absolute favorite of seafood lovers known for their sweet, creamybite and delicate flavor. Scallops are a great source of magnesium and potassium, which are both important for heart and brain health. They also promote blood vessel relaxation; help control blood pressure and enable better blood circulation.
#537461 - 1/ 8 LB - SEA SCALLOP U-10 DRY USA CA #537465 - 1/ 8 LB - SEA SCALLOP 10-20 DRY USA CA
Bay Winds® Peruvian All-Natural FarmRaised Rainbow Trout ranks just under canned pink salmon when it comes to omega-3 content and is a good source of potassium, selenium and vitamin B6 while offering more than a day’s worth of vitamin B12. When adding Peruvian All-Natural Farm-Raised Rainbow Trout on your menu; be sure to include any combination of these descriptors that will enhance the patron’s impression and can allow you to earn more profit: Peruvian Origin; Farm-Raised; Fresh Water; High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Mild and Buttery; Authentic; All-Natural.
