What comes first…Quality or Cost?
With the new year well underway, some of us are just ramping up for those resolutions.
Save money. Lose weight. Eat healthier. You can do it ALL by adding seafood to your diet!
It’s a fact that you shouldn’t skimp on quality when you’re talking about seafood. So how can you save money and still add fish to your diet? Read on…
We suggest you make out a weekly budget for food. On “seafood nights”, be sure to pack your lunch that day. Also, plan a frugal dinner the night before (or after). It will all average out and you’ll be able to support your seafood “splurge”.
Snapper, grouper, and Chilean sea bass are common favorites but can be expensive. Look for a more reasonably priced substitute like cod, barramundi, trout, hake, or sole. They’re versatile, cook quickly and taste great! You can grill, fry, steam or bake, so you won’t grow tired of the same old fish, cooked the same old way.
Also, you don’t need large portions to get HUGE taste. A seafood serving size is only about 6 ounces (uncooked). This supports your saving money / losing weight / eating healthy resolutions you secretly thought you couldn’t do. Frozen and canned seafood selections can help you save, too, but you may sacrifice on taste (and some nutrition).
Stretch your seafood purchase by mixing it into hearty dishes, soups or salads. By doing this, you can cut your seafood serving size in half! Salmon or shrimp with Alfredo sauce and zoodles (zucchini noodles) is both satisfying and filling. Add monkfish to a big pot of vegetable stew or top your favorite plate of greens with grilled trout.
Muscles and clams can be intimidating — but don’t let that stop you, they’re delicious and inexpensive! Steam in a wine or beer broth and they will open up within a matter of minutes and be ready to eat. Since you have to take the meat out of the shell, they help you eat slower which may lead to consuming fewer calories!
Some seafood is better than no seafood. Before you reach for that box of macaroni and cheese or stir up another package of ramen on the stove, think about adding a little seafood to round out your meal.
