Get kids hooked on fish and seafood

By Dana McCauley
We all know that the omega fatty acids in fish help kids to grow healthfully and that eating a variety of foods is recommended for helping children to develop good eating habits, but enticing your own kids to dive in and enjoy a protein that has an unfamiliar taste and texture can be challenging.  Experts recommend that parents offer fish to their kids from an early age not only because fish will then become a normal part of their  diet, but also to help children form positive opinions about fish and seafood before they start mingling with other children who may have negative attitudes about these foods.
While eating fish has benefits for your child’s future health, making the right choices in the grocery store is important if you’re concerned about the environment your children and grandchildren will inhabit as adults. There’s growing recognition that the world’s oceans, once regarded as an inexhaustible source of food, are in danger from overfishing. The causes (including the size of and methods used by many modern fishing boats) are numerous but the result is the same: many fish species are currently threatened because of the way we catch them. The good news is that there are now sustainable, affordable, family friendly frozen fish choices in Canadian grocery stores!
 
In early 2011 Janes Family Foods became the first company not just in Canada but in all of North America, to offer an entire line of sustainable, frozen, wild-caught fish products. We partnered with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the leading global environmental standard for responsible fishing, to earn the right to make this sustainability claim. This not-for-profit organization is working to reverse the decline in global fish stocks. Fish and fish products sporting the blue MSC logo are certified as coming from a fishery that has been audited to ensure it is sustainable and well-managed. The MSC logo also indicates that the chain of custody from boat-to-plate is traceable to a sustainable source. You’ll find this label on every Janes Family Foods fish and seafood product because, like you, we want to have a positive impact on long-term sustainability goals.
 
While buying MSC labeled fish is a great choice for your family, if they don’t eat it, you haven’t made a truly sustainable choice.  That’s why we’ve developed these kid-friendly recipes that will entice everyone in the family to enjoy sustainable fish when you serve it at home.
 
Crunchy Fish Tacos
Revive taco night with a new twist on a family favourite. Say goodbye to the beef and hard shell tacos and hello to fresh flaky fish and toothsome tortillas!

8 pieces Janes Premium Breaded or Battered Haddock Fillets
8 small wheat flour tortillas
4 cups shredded romaine or iceberg lettuce
1/4 cup (60 mL) each very thinly sliced red onion and red pepper
2 tbsp (30 mL) lightly packed, fresh cilantro leaves
2/3 cup (150 mL) corn or mango-lime salsa
 
Prepare fish according to package directions. Wrap the tortillas in foil and reserve until the last 5 minutes of the fish cooking time. Add to the oven.
Meanwhile, toss the lettuce with the onions, peppers and cilantro leaves. Remove tortillas from the oven with the fish. Lay warm tortillas out on a clean work surface and sprinkle evenly with lettuce mixture. Cut each piece of fish into 3 or 4 pieces and add an equal amount to each tortilla. Spoon an equal amount of salsa over each filled tortilla. Makes 4 servings.
Tip:  Janes Pub Style fish also works well in fish tacos.
 
Tokyo Salmon Burgers:
Kids love burgers and fries so why not jump on their enthusiasm for hand-held food and give them a new way to enjoy their favourite drive thru meal in a healthier, more delicious way? These Asian-inspired burgers have enough flavour to please parental palates but have enough sweetness to make them a hit with kids, too. Serve them with oven baked sweet potato fries to complete the meal.

–Bring Asian flair to your dining table by brushing Janes Wild Sockeye Salmon Burgers with a teriyaki flavoured grilling sauce during the last couple of minutes of cooking.
–Transfer to sesame seed buns and top with sliced avocado and cucumber.
–Spread over a little mayonnaise.
–And, if you just can’t have a burger without a pickle, try adding tendrils of pickled ginger as an additional garnish.
Tip: If you have teens who love the spicy flavours of Asian take out, serve these burgers with  Korean kimchi!
 
BLT Fishwiches
These hot sandwiches are the perfect weekend lunch choice for busy families who want to eat yummy, healthy options but don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen on their precious days off.
4 Janes Pub Style Fish Fillets
8 bacon slices
4 Kaiser, focaccia or hamburger buns
4 tbsp (60 mL) tartar sauce
4  lettuce leaves
8 tomato slices
Prepare fish fillets according to package directions. Cook bacon until crisp. Toast buns; spread with tartar sauce. Place a fillet on bottom bun half, top with bacon, lettuce and tomato. Cover with bun top.
 
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Dana McCauley is the Culinary Director at Janes Family Foods where she uses food trend insights to develop new food products and recipes that use Janes products. She is also a judge on Food Network Canada’s original reality TV series Recipe to Riches. Visit the Janes Family Foods’ website for more recipes and you can also get to know us better by following us on twitter: @JanesGreen, @JanesFamilyFd.