Is it too early in our relationship to get this weird? Have we developed trust yet? I feel like you get me and might not be as shocked about this post as you could be, after all, we have been through butternut squash, beets and chia. Safe to assume we weren’t going to talk about apples just yet. So, sardine it is. But, they are still very under-utilized and a bit of a secret, so let’s just keep it between us, huh.
Food has many functions, as far as I am concerned. You can eat for pleasure, fuel, nourishment (soul satisfying), entertainment, enjoyment, community, emotional “support” or nutritional value. It’s a great day at the shop when more than one of those things exist in the same meal. As for sardines, you may need to start solely with the nutritional value, first and maybe the entertainment value, but hopefully you can also come to enjoy them and be pleased with the HUGE benefit you are receiving by eating them.
Let’s break it down. Sardines are usually packed in a tin can with oil, you can also buy them fresh….but not too common here in Bloomington (as you can imagine). Sardines provide more calcium and phosphorous than milk, more iron than spinach, more potassium than coconut water and bananas and as much protein as a steak. They also contain EPA and DHA Omega 3 fatty acids (which are important fatty acids with five and six double bonds, respectively, connecting them). Its important to get them in your diet through food as much as you can so your body can better metabolize and utilize it. It also has Coenzyme Q10, a nutrient found in the body’s cells and believed to have antioxidant and immune system boosting properties.
In only 2 oz. of sardines, you get 110 calories, 8 g of fat, 260 mg sodium and 10 g. protein.
These little guys are packed full of nutrition. If you can decide to start with the nutritional benefit and work your way toward possibly enjoying them, they are definitely worth the risk.
Here’s some recipes to give a whirl, but I put it on a gluten free cracker, topped with parmesan cheese, baby kale and a piece of sardine. YUM-O! Lunch is made in a matter of minutes.
Thanks for joining me on another Foodie Friday! Food is a constant journey that takes you to new places… & I love being part of your journey.
~ Jamie
For more information on Jamie’s services check out our Nutrition page or contact us today.
