Farm Raised or Wild Caught Fish?

I found some great filets at Whole Foods yesterday. My husband has taught me eating wild caught salmon is the only way to eat fish. If it isn’t wild caught, you’re better off not eating it. Seafood can get pricey however, especially when it’s au natural. Who knew catching fish from the fresh waters of the sea would translate to beacoup bucks at the dinner table. I suppose it makes sense if you think about it. Mass producing fish in a fish farm, with growth hormones and readily available chemicals is so much easier and more cost effective for producers. But I squirm at the thought of ingesting the unknown. I wasn’t always this health conscious. This transformation has taken years, and I’m still getting there. I gawk at how much of a food snob I’ve become, although I wouldn’t characterize it as snobby …but now I’m beginning to understand where culinary snobbery is birthed. It is different for everyone, but for me it began about three years ago. I went from cutting back unhealthy meals to then learning about the importance of exercise and to now understanding why it’s so critical to eat pure. As pure as possible. It isn’t always possible. In fact it can be impossible if you carry on with a normal life. Unless you’re competing for something, or lock yourself away from society, it would be extremely difficult to eat pure every day of your life.Think of all the fun summer BBQ’s you’d miss out on. Yes, you can live a little…or a lot!

For me, it’s about balance and I have found that if I don’t put pressure on myself to eat perfect every day out of the week, I’m more successful at picking healthy food choices. I try my hardest, whether it’s prepping my meals for work (and this way works best for me) or being conscious about what I’m ordering off a menu, that I am aware of the foods I put in my mouth. And when the work week is over, I just let it be. This attitude has helped me reach new goals when it comes to strength. Food is literally fuel, and if you’re fueling your body with the wrong calories, you won’t find progress in the gym.

That was my tidbit.

Now back to wild caught salmon. I found some delicious filets for $10.99 in the frozen section at Whole Foods. Not a bad price for fresh fish. My point is…eating healthy and pure CAN be affordable if you want it to be! I promise. I may spend a little more at the grocery store, but because I have cut back on my daily take out habits, I’m actually saving money. In the end, it evens out…and the benefits of a healthy diet are priceless. As your body gets used to clean food, you’ll begin to notice your body’s response to unhealthy foods. In my case…stomach aches, indigestion…my body is saying “No! Go back! Why are you doing this to me?” Pretty soon, you’ve spoiled your body with healthy eating so much it won’t allow you to go back!

Here’s a simple recipe for lunch at work I made this morning that is ready to go in my tupperware. A 6-8 ounce filet of salmon (wild caught) and some brussel sprouts. I also made a batch of quinoa, which is a great source of complex carbs.

This was easy to make. Turn on your oven to 350, and bake for 30 minutes max. Check on your filet from time to time. Some people prefer their fish medium, others well done. I put some salmon rub on top, and made sure to bake it on tin foil with a little bit of olive oil. The brussel sprouts are steamed and have a mix of himalayan salt, pepper and paprika sprinkled on top.

When you go to eat your WILD CAUGHT salmon, notice the distinct difference in color. It’s literally salmon in color NOT pink. Yeah, pink is pretty and all but your fish isn’t supposed to be pink. That’s a dye mass producers use to make your fish look like “fish”. You’ll also notice the difference in taste. A little more fishy, as it’s supposed to be. Remember the fatty Omega 3 is one type of fat you don’t want to cut back on. It has tremendous health benefits.

Cheers to good health everyone! Until next time…I hope you enjoy this recipe.