Being a parent is not an easy job. Parents are considered to be next to gods when it comes to their children. And there would be no other better person to take care of a child’s need than their parents themselves. Parents nowadays are very concerned about what to feed their children and the freshness of the food which they buy. With so many options available in the market, there is a pool of choices to be made. But the most difficult aspect is to choose the right product which would be good for their child’s growth, well being & which would be fresh. Amongst various foods, fish consumption has been an important aspect for parents. Many parents wonder how much and what kinds of fish are safe for children. Below, Pescafresh, India’s leading fresh seafood brand offers some guidelines to help you limit your child’s exposure to mercury while making sure they get the nutrients they need.
Fish is a major source of omega-3 fatty acids (specifically DHA and EPA), which is important for a child’s brain and eye development. Fish is also low in saturated fat and high in protein, vitamin D, and other nutrients. On the other hand, some types of fish contain contaminants such as mercury. In high doses, this metal is harmful to a child’s developing brain and nervous system. Most experts agree that children should eat some fish. But it’s a good idea to figure out which ones are safe and how often to serve them. With Pescafresh, one is sure to get 100% fresh and customized seafood at their doorstep, 365 days a year irrespective of seasonal vagaries.
Parents tend to have several concerns on the kind of food and the freshness of the food their child consumes. One of the concerns most contemplated is what would happen to their child if they eat a fish which is high in mercury levels. The body easily absorbs methyl mercury from fish. And the metal acts as a neurotoxin, which means that it can affect the brain and nervous system. Babies (including those in uterus) and young children are most vulnerable to high levels of methyl mercury because their brains and nervous systems are still developing. Experts are still debating exactly how much mercury is harmful, but most agree it’s a good idea to avoid feeding their children fish that are high in mercury and to limit (but not eliminate) other fish in their diet.
Many a time’s parents just feel like removing the fish from the child’s menu. But the fact being that if a parent stops feeding a child fish to avoid mercury, the child may miss out on the healthy nutrients that a fish provides. “It’s not necessary – or even possible – to avoid all exposure to mercury. There are low amounts that are not harmful,” says Charles Santerre, a professor of food toxicology at Purdue University and an expert on contaminants in fish.
Studies have shown that getting enough omega-3s during pregnancy and infancy (either through breastfeeding or supplemented formula) has a positive effect on a child’s vision and cognitive development. It has been found that children with dyslexia and ADHD tendencies experienced improved concentration, decreased anxiety and a reduction in disruptive behaviour, after consuming three months of fish oils.
Another popular concern which parents have is on the kind of fish & the quantity that they should serve their kids. Well, the advisory from the FDA and EPA suggest that it’s okay to serve ones child two child-sized servings a week of any fish and shellfish, other than the four which shouldn’t be served at all: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. A child-sized serving is 1 ounce of fish for 1- and 2-year-olds; 1.5 ounces for children ages 3 to 6; and 2 ounces for a child over age 6.
The low-mercury seafood most commonly eaten by children include shrimp, salmon, pollock, and catfish. Among these, only salmon is a good source of omega-3s.
According to the CEO of Pescafresh, Mr Sangram Sawant, “It’s better to get specific nutrients from food than supplements. Fish, as we are aware is a great source of Omega 3 for a child. We, at Pescafresh try to look into every parents concern as well as the taste and preferences of kids. Recently at our event we made sure to pamper the kids with fish & chips, prawn popcorn and marshmallows which are simple yet divine items for kids. We would not blame the parents if their kids pester them for Fish n chips to the dining table or carry them in their tiffin! With Pescafresh, we make sure that every kid gets their source of nutrients along with a flavorsome fresh fish right outside their doorstep.”
Pescafresh is servicing over 20,000 households in Mumbai through their home delivery centres. Pescafresh has entered into front end retail through SIS arrangements with India’s leading retail brands, including Hypermarket chains like Aditya Birla Retail Limited’s MORE and Future Group Big Bazaar. Pescafresh is also retailed though Gourmet chains like Godrej’s Nature’s Basket, Future Group’s Foodhall & Tata Trent’s Gourmet West. These ventures in retail has made brand Pescafresh accessible to fish lovers across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad & Delhi.
With Pune being next in the pipeline for January 2015 launch, it makes the company India’s leading fresh seafood brand.
