The New Food Pyramid Recommends Eating Tuna ff

With today's announcement that the revised Food Pyramid urges Americans to “get started” on a healthier lifestyle, a new survey by Harris Interactive(R) reveals that 51 percent of U.S. adults who have ever eaten seafood say they are eating more seafood now than they did five years ago.  Additionally, about two in five seafood eaters (41 percent) say they eat seafood because recent studies suggest it is healthy for the heart.

The survey, commissioned by Red Lobster, also discovered that:

* More than three in four U.S. adults (77 percent) say they eat seafood at least once a month.  Only about one in ten (9 percent) say they never eat seafood.

* The top two types of seafood frequently consumed by U.S. adult seafood eaters are shrimp (61 percent) and canned tuna (57 percent), followed by salmon (39 percent), crab (23 percent), catfish (22 percent), fresh tuna (22 percent), cod (17 percent) and mollusks, such as mussels, clams or oysters (16 percent).  Other types of seafood consumed frequently include:  lobster (11%), halibut (10%), haddock (9%), rainbow trout (9%), tilapia (9%), snapper (8%) and grouper (4%).

* About two-thirds of U.S. adult seafood eaters (67 percent) say they eat seafood because it is a welcome alternative to meat and chicken. Additionally, 68 percent note that they purchase seafood such as salmon, shrimp and sushi at their local supermarket or grocery store.

The new Food Pyramid recommends eating lean or low-fat meat and poultry, and advises Americans choose fish more frequently because it contains healthy oils.  The Pyramid specifically recommends eating fish such as salmon and trout because they are rich in heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids.

”Seafood is versatile and can be prepared in countless ways to please almost any appetite,” said Kim Lopdrup, president of Red Lobster. “Seafood is a naturally healthy protein that's low in fats, calories and carbs.  How many foods can you say that about?”

For consumers who want to make fish a bigger part of their diet, the seafood experts at Red Lobster offer these tips:

* Grill salmon, tuna or mackerel as a leaner alternative to hamburger or steak.

Instead of bacon, try smoked salmon, which is flavorful and rich in heart-healthy Omega-3s.

* Experiment with ethnic cuisines.  Asian stir-fry dishes with lobster or shrimp and other seafood meals, such as paella, are unique, flavorful and can be prepared without rich, high-calorie sauces.  Sushi is another good alternative since it's readily available in many food markets.

* Fish tacos are popular in food circles and are easy to make. Grill or steam your favorite fish, mix in some fresh cilantro, vegetables such as onions and tomatoes and a light vinaigrette dressing. Wrap the mixture in a soft-shell tortilla.

* Leftover fish, such as salmon can be mixed with scrambled egg whites or an egg substitute, and combined with vegetables and spices for a delectable dinner or brunch entree.

* Since healthy eating habits are formed at a young age, don't forget to get your kids excited about eating seafood. Try adding cut-up seafood to familiar favorites (such as macaroni & cheese or pasta & sauce) or serving seafood in bite-sized pieces that kids can easily handle. If young children don't initially accept seafood, that's fine - try it again in a week or two. Many times kids will accept a new food if it's offered on more than one occasion.

* Cook seafood the right way.  Baking, broiling, grilling and sauteing in little or no fat are healthier cooking methods.  Deep-frying adds calories and saturated fats, and the very high cooking temperatures destroy Omega-3s. Poaching or steaming are also two healthy cooking methods that pack a lot of flavor, but none of the fat.  For an Asian-inspired dish, steam your favorite seafood and then add lemon grass, ginger and scallions.  For a more European flair, poach the seafood in white wine and lemon.

About the Survey

Harris Interactive(R) conducted the telephone survey for Red Lobster between March 17 and 20, 2005 among a nationwide cross section of 1,006 U.S. adults ages 18 and over, of whom 926 have ever eaten seafood. Figures for age, sex, race, and region were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population. In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results for the overall sample have a sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Sampling error for the sample of seafood eaters is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.

About Red Lobster

Red Lobster operates more than 670 seafood restaurants in the United States and Canada. 

About Harris Interactive(R)

Harris Interactive Inc., the 15^th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester, N.Y.-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application. Known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering Internet-based research methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results.

Source: Red Lobster