Seafood has great benefits to kids and children at a young age. This type of food is a great source of protein and omega -3 fatty acid, which has innumerable benefits to the body. Before introducing these certain foods to the kids, you need to consider some factors. For instance, the mercury levels present in these foods. Low mercury seafood includes scallops, shrimp, tilapia, oysters, catfish, sardines, and salmon. It would help if you offered seafood to kids at the age of 6 months. This is the most recommended time by dieticians and other health experts. You will only need to serve the kid 2-3 times a week this particular type of food. You can easily get all types of seafood from different seafood delivery services in Melbourne.
Here is an overview of the best seafood recipes for kids
Mashed potato and salmon
This is one of the kids’ favorite meals. This is the perfect combination to make your kid enjoy the meal.
Ingredients
- 400grams mashed potatoes
- 200 grams of salmon
- Boiled cabbage(optional)
- Few cowpeas (crushed)
- Fresh parsley
- Olive oil
- Lemon
How to prepare
- Put the mashed potatoes in a big bowl
- Add the salmon, crushed cowpeas, boiled cabbage, and salt to the bowl. Mix them properly to form a thick paste.
- Shape the mixture using your hands into small cakes. Using a little flour, dust them off.
- Heat the oil on medium heat, then place the small cakes you have formed. Cook them for 5-7 minutes on both sides.
- Add the fresh parsley for decoration purposes, then serve the kids.
Fish curry
Fish curry is also a very nutritious meal for kids and toddlers.
Ingredients
- 3 onions
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon of red chili powder
- 1 spoonful of ginger-garlic paste
- Olive oil
- 1 cup of water
- 500grams fish
- Salt
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
How to prepare
- Marinate the fish with all the ingredients above, leaving behind the onions and tomatoes
- Heat some olive oil at a moderate temperature and add the two cut onions
- Add tomatoes and cook till they turn soft and appears like a paste
- Dip the marinated salmon pieces in the paste
- Turn each side to ensure it is evenly cooked
- Cook for 5 -6 minutes
- Allow cooling, then serve to the kids
Tuna patties
They are easy to cook and are liked mostly by toddlers. You can serve tuna patties with your toddlers’ or kids’ favorite sandwiches.
Ingredients
- 4-ounce tuna
- Two eggs
- Lemon juice
- Cheese
- Breadcrumbs
- 1 onion( diced)
- Olive oil
How to prepare
- Start by whisking the eggs into a bowl
- Then add the grated cheese and lemon juice, breadcrumbs and mix them to form a thick paste.
- Add the diced onion
- Shape the tuna mixture and form round patties
- After then heat the olive oil in low, medium heat.
- Fry the tuna Pattie until they turn into golden brown on both sides.
- Serve the kid when warm.
Tilapia with green beans
You can also opt to prepare tilapia with green beans for your kids.
Ingredients
- 2- ounce tilapia fillets
- 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- 500 grams of green beans
- 1 clove garlic(chopped)
- Lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of flour
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
How to prepare
- Mix the flour and the parsley in a bowl and season the mixture using salt and pepper
- Place the fish in the mixture shaking off the excess flour
- Place a large pan on low, medium heat, then add the two teaspoons of butter
- Add the fillets and cook until they turn golden brown by turning the fish on both sides
- Remove the fish from the pan and place it on a plate
- Add the green beans and garlic to the pan and cook for approximately 2 minutes
- Add tomatoes and cook them until they become soft
- After that, stir in the lemon juice and a cup of water, cover the pan until the beans become tender. After the beans have already cooked, remove the pan and stir some butter until it fully melts
- After the food has already cooled, you can serve the kids by dividing the fish into plates and adding green beans. This is a nutritious meal, especially during the weaning stage.
Final words
In conclusion, there is a wide variety of recipes one can use to prepare seafood for kids. The above article clearly illustrates some of the recipes one can use. Seafood is very important for brain development in kids and toddlers. These types of meals are also linked to reducing the risks of heart attack or lung disease. A kid who consumes this kind of food is at a lower risk of getting infections because his or her immune system is high. It is advisable to get the supplies from a reputable dealer or a trusted vendor. This is because untrusted suppliers may end up supplying expired products, which may ruin the kid’s health.