Start the School Year Right With Easy Alaska Salmon Lunches

Each year it's easy to say that this will be the year that the kids' nutrition will be a top priority when it comes to school lunches, but each year families inevitably fall behind and let nutrition fall by the wayside. Many times parents just don't have the time or energy to create healthy, nutritious and delicious meals for their children the night before, and lunches begin to convert into more and more prepackaged, processed products with each term that goes by. Before long, parents are simply stuffing bags of processed food directly of grocery store shelves into their children's lunch pails and calling it good enough, instead focusing their nutritive efforts on meals they can control like breakfast and lunch. Sending lunch money might be an option, but often the lack of flavor and excitement, not to mention variety that comes with school lunches can often lead children to make even worse choices on their own, choosing to eat only ice cream and pizza, or drink soda instead of having a balanced lunch, for example.

For many parents, tuna is a great alternative because it's incredibly fast and easy and full of nutrients. The problem can be that often times tuna can get old fast with its very particular taste, and mercury levels may be a concern for some parents when tuna is served more than a few times each week. Many parents are finding that canned salmon is a great alternative instead. Packed with vitamins, minerals and nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids and calcium, along with a great delicate flavor, canned salmon is a versatile alternative that kids and parents alike can love! While some farm raised varieties are known to contain high levels of harmful PCBs, dioxins, and pesticides, salmon certified wild is a great healthy choice that is full of all good things. A great way to know you're getting a good product is to look for Alaska canned salmon, which is caught wild and comes from the sustainable fisheries of the icy Alaskan waters.

Many users can be taken aback by the bones and bits of skin that come on regular canned salmon, but never fear, there are alternatives. There are wild salmon varieties available canned that come skinless and boneless. Although this can be more aesthetically pleasing, the bones are actually completely edible and harmless, blend in easily with the rest of the salmon filet, and are top sources of calcium and magnesium which help kids to grow and develop strong bones. In fact, the entire contents of canned salmon can be used for great tuna substitute recipes like salmon salad on bread, salmon over green salad, or grilled salmon and cheese sandwiches. Look for varieties like sockeye or red, pink or chum salmon to add even more taste and flavor to meals, or even try smoked canned salmon for a more adult palate. From pasta to pizza from kids lunchboxes to fine dining at home, canned salmon is the perfect delicious, nutritious seafood alternative!

Great tasting Alaska seafood is a healthy way to feed the whole family. You'll find a ton of great nutrition information at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute's website.