Nutrient Dense Kid (or Adult) Snack

Pioneering dentist, Weston A. Price, wrote in his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration that fish eggs in primitive cultures were reserved for babies, young children, and mothers raising families (page 477).

This snack is not a frequent one in our home.  It's a splurge. Fish eggs are not cheap.  McDonalds french fries are cheap.  Want to guess which one is better for you?

Above my 4 year old daughter is eating whitefish roe, which is slightly salty, on sprouted bread and butter (with chives).  She said, "It feels like popping balls in my mouth!" 

Below, my 17 month old son ate it on bread and sour cream (the butter was cold and too hard to spread when I made his.)

Perfect finger food for a baby.

I served some as hors d'oeuvres to gluten- and dairy-free friends with avocado and cucumber.

We also tried salmon roe with orange bell pepper and cucumber.  I think the salmon roe has a slightly stronger flavor.  And, since the eggs are larger than the whitefish roe, the texture can be more of an issue for those who are texture sensitive.  If you are new to the fish egg scene, start with whitefish roe and work your way up to the salmon roe.

Peoples of traditional cultures unaffected by modern foods knew instinctively which foods were nutrient dense.  Salmon roe, or also known as Ikura in sushi eating circles, packs a powerful punch when it comes to nutrient density.  A small serving of only one tablespoon provides ample omega-3s to nourish the brain an neural system.  You'll also get protein, good fat, iron, vitamin A and calcium.

I purchased this caviar at Whole Foods.  Vital Choice is a reputable on-line company that has a superior product, and cheaper if you are able to buy in bulk.  It is shipped frozen to your door.

One more picture for you.  This was taken from the fish case at Whole Foods.  You will see two kinds of salmon (middle and far right).  One is farm-raised, the other is wild caught.  Can you tell from the color which one is more nutritious?

Animals with legs should be farm-raised.  Fish are best caught in the wild.  Notice the deep red color on the far right?  That is healthy because the wild-caught fish was eating food it was meant to eat, not corn and soy on a farm.  

If you'd like to learn more about buying fish in a land locked state click here.

Any fans of caviar out there?

-Julie