[midwife]

I bought a bag of frozen tilapia filets. Yummo! 3 minutes in the microwave and I can have fish tacos, or fish on grains/veggies, etc. I also have been enjoying canned salmon, added to soups or to make a salmon salad. And then there is shrimp.

Fish is so good, so easy, and fabulous protein.

The problem? I worry about mercury and pollution. I could seriously eat seafood twice a day everyday....I'm not sure that is a good plan though!

Do you limit how often you eat seafood each week as a general rule?

[mandalinn82]

0.

Honestly, I'm not a seafood person. I know how to cook it so it tastes decent, and I get a hankering maybe once a month...but I don't make it at home, as a rule, since I would much rather have other sources of protein.

I should go add that to the diet rules I'm breaking!

[midwife]

Well, there goes my plan of moving in with you!!! I'm still tempted by your desserts, though!

[nelie]

When I was eating meat, I would eat fish about once a week. Now I don't eat any meat so....

The mercury honestly is very concerning but if you are using fish to replace factory farmed, grain fed meat (pork, beef, chicken), then it is probably healthier even with the mercury concerns.

[mandalinn82]

This article has a nice comparison of omega-3 vs. mercury, including the quote below:

Salmon, oysters, whitefish, sea bass, freshwater trout, and sardines contain both high levels of heart-healthy omega-3s and low mercury levels, below 0.13 parts per million.

Other low-mercury choices include perch, king crab, flounder, sole, pollock, catfish, croaker, scallops, crawfish, shrimp, clams, and tilapia. They contain less omega-3s, but servings can add up.

Tuna is controversial, because different varieties contain different amounts of both mercury and heart-healthy fats. Canned light tuna contains a small amount of omega-3, about as much as shrimp, and fairly low 0.13 ppm mercury. But fresh tuna steaks and the more expensive canned white or albacore tuna contain three times as much mercury, and almost as much omega-3 as salmon.

[Cookie_Monster]

I probably eat a 6 oz. salmon fillet about 3 times a week. I don't worry about it too much because as Amanda said, it is on the list of low mercury level fish. I would worry if you ate a lot of tuna, but I personally can't stand tuna so it's no problem for me.

For what it's worth, my brother used to eat a lot of canned tuna, at least 1 can a day. He started to get horrible headaches and couldn't figure out why...once he laid off the tuna, they went away.

[Horo]

I have shrimp occasionally, and that's about it. The only way I like actual fish is fried in a beer batter (yumm) and I haven't had that since last time my dad and I went fishing. (many months ago) So, close to zero, since I only have shrimp about every other week.

[SCraver]

I heard that wild caught is BETTER than farm raised - less mercury. I don't have any fact to back that up with - but I try to stick to wild caught when possible. I try to eat it twice a week. I LOVE shrimp, lobster, cod, and haddock (the milder fishes)... but I prefer my fish fresh and it can get expensive.

[midwife]

That's a great list. Thanks, Amanda.

I guess I spend so much time cautioning pregnant women that I feel a little funny about going over 4 servings a week. But then, I am not growing a fetus.

That's very interesting about the headaches and tuna....I eat tuna just a few times a year.

[azmom]

I love tilapia and eat about 1 or 2 times a week. My favorite way is pan-fried in a little "Pam" with garlic salt and fresh ground pepper topped with tri-color peppers & onions. I am so hungry right now!

[Ija]

I eat fish about three times a week. The health benefits really outweight the dangers. Fish is so good for you, and yummy! Earlier tonight I made the breaded cod recipe from 3FC and ohmygoodness was it fantastic. I also love to make baked salmon with a little olive oil and turmeric --it's really all you need.

[SoulBliss]

Originally Posted by midwife

Do you limit how often you eat seafood each week as a general rule?

I don't eat any sea creatures, ever, and some of your concerns are some of my major reasons why.

[horsey]

I'm trying to have fish twice a week at least, I hate salmon but I'm forcing myself as it's great for the skin. I LOVE shrimp and figured out how easy it is to cook shrimp scampi with garlic, oil, some tomatoes. And tuna is so easy on salads. Plus I've been buying that imitation crab and making salads with lowfat dressing. That's good for variety although I'm not sure it counts. Salmon is the miracle fish, if you eat it just watch your SKIN GLOW.

[tamaralynn]

I could eat fish every day

I limit our family to 2 times a week max... but deffinately once a week.

We eat salmon, cod and basa.

The kids are a little hesitant on fish, until I started cooking our salmon with lemon pepper shake N bake. Oh yum! They finish their fish before me!!!

[Shy Moment]

We have salmon twice a week and tuna once a week.