In Search of Healthy Eating Plans for 2010? Go Fish!

Posted by Audrey on January 6th, 2010 at 11:53am

Fact: According to a 2008 study on U.S. health published by the Center For Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics, about two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.

Fact: The same study found that heart disease, which is associated with obesity, is the number one cause of death for Americans.

It’s not hard to see how we ended up here.  Busy lifestyles, sedentary jobs, and the cheapness and prevalence of fast food all make it difficult to find the time and motivation to sit down and prepare a filling, low-calorie meal. Plus, fast food just tastes good – what’s more satisfying than a cheeseburger with french fries?

If you’re fed up with a fast food diet and resulting weight struggles, why not make yourself some healthy eating plans for the new year? One simple way to cut down on fat without spending a lot of time in the kitchen is by introducing more fish into your diet.

Fish is high in omega 3 fatty acids, a “good” type of fat which has been shown to contribute to heart health. It’s much lower in fat than pork or beef, and almost as high in protein. Our first instinct with other types of meat is too often “bad” – we like to grill hamburger meat with a thick layer of greasy cheese on top, or fry pork chops in butter. Fish, however, lends itself better to healthy, fast options – it’s quick and delicious baked in the oven, marinated in fruit and then grilled, or simply diced and served in a sandwich.

Try fish this year! We’ve picked some of our best fish recipes to get you started on your healthy eating plan. You’ll be on your way to a healthy lifestyle if you substitute fish for a greasy meat or fast food dish at least once a week. Give it a try!

Baked Fish Recipes

Baked Catfish with Almonds – This is a great way to prepare catfish by using the natural almond flavors to bring out the taste of the catfish. This easy fish recipe is only three steps and will take you less than 20 minutes to make!

Baked Halibut with Blue Cheese Dressing – This fish recipe skimps on calories by baking fish instead of frying it. Baked halibut is wonderfully offset by rich, delicious blue cheese.

Baked Atlantic Salmon with Grilled Eggplant – This is a full meal that you can make for one for increase the recipe for more people. Baked Atlantic Salmon with Grilled Eggplant and Basil Mashed Potatoes is an Italian-style dish you will want to make over and over.

Grilled Fish Recipes

Grilled Tilapia Skillet Kabobs – You can give ordinary kabobs and island flair with this recipe. The pineapple chunks and mixed vegetables are the perfect accent to the tilapia. Serve with brown rice or a leafy salad for lunch or dinner.

Citrus Grilled Salmon with Dill – Try this tasty grilled salmon recipe that combines citrus and dill. This recipe is easy to make and you can adjust the ingredients according to what you have on hand, and you will still have a great product. This is perfect for an end of summer dinner party.

Grilled Tandoori Salmon with Fresh Peach Chutney and Minted Yogurt Sauce – This Tandoori Salmon is a classic Indian recipe with a twist. The fresh peach chutney and minted yogurt sauce make this dish a sweet and savory treat.

Fish Salad, Sandwich & Cake Recipes

Endive, Watercress and Basil Salad with Blackened Tuna Steak – Use this delicious Blackened Tuna Steak as a topping for the salad. The remoulade sauce really tops off this dish by adding a creamy taste to balance the blackened spicy tuna.

Pan-Fried Salmon Cakes – You can pan-fry salmon cakes just like you would crab cakes for a delicious and unique dish using salmon. Try this easy recipe and create a meal the whole family will enjoy. You can make this dish healthier by decreasing the mayo, making sure to use whole wheat bread and finishing these cakes in the oven after you start them in a pan.

Low Fat Tuna Tostada – Tuna recipes with canned tuna are great because they are cheap and have all the nutritional benefits of fish. Think of this tuna recipe as the spiced adaptation of the classic tuna fish sandwich.

Tags: baking, Diet Advice, healthy eating, healthy foods, home cooking

Under Diet Advice+ Diet Foods+ Health+ Healthy Recipes Tags: baking, Diet Advice, healthy eating, healthy foods, home cooking