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Maryann Jacobsen

Independent Author & Family Nutrition Expert

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Ask Maryann: Can Young Children Eat Fish?

July 7, 2009

Post graphic yellow and green with apple saying: Ask Maryann: Can young children eat fish
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Q: A friend told me not to give my daughter fish because of the risk of mercury poisoning. Is it okay for young children to eat fish?

A: It’s too bad that methyl mercury has made families wary of serving fish. Fish is not only an excellent source of protein, but it’s also the best source of omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) essential for brain development.

See DHA and Kids: The Complete Guide for Parents

The FDA recommends high-risk groups including young children, pregnant women, women capable of becoming pregnant and nursing moms consume 1-2 servings of fish per week but it can be 2-3 times from the best choice list or 1 from the good choices list (see below).

Be careful of portion sizes. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 1 ounce for children 2-3, 2 ounces for children 4-7, 3 ounces for children 8-10, and 4 ounces for children 11 years and older. If you’re eating fish caught locally, check for fish advisories.

Best Choices: Scallops, shrimp, cod, salmon, sardines, herring, canned light tuna, sole, pollock, crab, and Atlantic mackerel

Good Choices: Bluefish, Chilean sea bass, halibut, canned albacore tuna, yellowfin tuna, tilefish (Atlantic ocean)

Avoid: Shark, swordfish, tilefish (Gulf of Mexico), bigeye tuna, orange roughy, marlin, king mackerel

Updated 4/2019

For more details about feeding children of all ages, check out Maryann’s book Fearless Feeding: How to Raise Healthy Eaters From High Chair to High School

Fearless Feeding book cover

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Categories: Feeding Infants, Feeding Toddlers & Preschoolers 3 Comments

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Comments

  1. maya says

    November 24, 2009 at 2:37 am

    Hello
    I liked your so site very much,therefore i have chosen you to ask.
    I am a healthy 32 yr old women entering my 13th week of pregnency.I am vegan.I started my pregnency at normal weight and has gained 1.5kg so far and has no history of nutrient deficiencies.I am really worried that my baby may not be getting the nutrients she needs.Knowing that i wear sunscreen whenever i go out ,and i make sure to combine plant sources of protein everyday.
    I made dietary analysis and the results were:
    Calories:2237
    Protein:65g
    Linoleic acid:15.2g
    Alpha linolenic acid:0.54g
    Vitamin B12:2.1 micro g
    Vitamin D:3 micro g
    Zinc:15mg

    My questions are:
    1)Am i consuming enough protein?
    2)Which nutrients are consumed in amounts that are below the DRI standard for pregnency?3)Can you suggest types of food that i can consume to bring up my intake of the nutrients indentifies in question 2?
    4)Can you give me a plan sample of a typical day menu.

    Thanks alot and sorry to bother.
    Hope you reply me as soon as possible.

    Reply
    • Maryann Tomovich Jacobsen, MS, RD says

      November 24, 2009 at 4:32 pm

      I’ll send you an email with my advice. Thanks!

      Reply
  2. diaperbaglady says

    August 3, 2011 at 10:45 am

    Fish is such a wonderful way to get so many valuable nutrients, as the article so clearly described. However, like everything else out there today, we have to arm ourselves with knowledge so that we can make safe and healthy choices for ourselves and our families. Don’t “throw the baby out with the bathwater”…just dedicate a bit of time to researching what is good for you, and what isn’t. That way, you feel empowered knowing you’re making smart choices for the health and nutrition of your family.

    Reply

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