Happy National Seafood Month!

October is National Seafood Month! Seafood Nutrition Partnership, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is urging us all to eat two servings of sustainable seafood each week. On October 1st, the nonprofit celebrated eating more sustainable seafood during National Seafood Month at Ivy City with a bunch of DC foodies.

Seafood Nutrition Partnership is committed to creating a healthier America, and by taking the #Seafood2xWk pledge, you can be involved in improving your family’s health and the environment! Seafood is one of the leanest sources of protein; adults who eat it regularly have better memory and live an average 2.2 years longer. 7 Out of 10 Deaths in the US are preventable through diet and lifestyle changes—like adding Omega-3s to your diet! Eating seafood 2-3 times a week also reduces your risk of death from any health rated cause by 17%. 

Seafood is a vital part of the human diet. Sustainable seafood supports both human health and environmental health and Seafood Nutrition Partnership wants all of us to follow a healthier dietary pattern by indulging in seafood on a more regular basis. 

The nonprofit believes these foods needs to be caught or farmed in environmentally and socially responsible methods. It’s important to know where seafood comes from – whether from a wild fishery or farm – and it is important to know that they are utilizing safe, science-based approaches to their practices. 

So, what can you do? 

BE MINDFUL IN THE GROCERY STORE. It can be very difficult to know what you’re eating and where it’s from, but the first step in improving your health is knowing the facts. Most grocery stores have a quality and sustainability practice in place to guarantee that seafood comes from responsibly harvested sources. 

KNOW THE HEALTHY OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Whether fish is wild or farmed, knowing its origin is the first step to understanding if it's abundant, sustainable and healthy. There is an app available as a go-to resource and a list of sustainable, low-mercury healthy fish options. 

BUY LOCAL. Always buy seafood from a reputable market, and never be afraid to ask questions! Ask your grocer what seafood is in season, where the fish is from, and when it came into the store. 

ORDER THE SEAFOOD ON THE MENU. 

TAKE THE PLEDGE HERE. By pledging to eat at least two servings of seafood each week as recommended by the USDA HHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans and supplement with omega-3s, you will be helping your family’s health. The Seafood Nutrition Partnership nonprofit aims to reduce the risks of heart disease, improve baby brain wellness and increase memory by educating Americans about the health benefits of sustainable seafood and building awareness of seafood’s essential nutritional value. 

For more information, go to: Seafood Nutrition Partnership