Fish on Good ‘mood’ Friday

Today is Good Friday, the first day of the Easter weekend. Except it’s a very different type of Easter this year, because despite the usual high temperatures that Easter seems to attract, we’re advised to stay home. No sunbathing in the park. No leisurely pub lunches. No visits to the lido.

When my husband Alex (diary of a doctor) announced last week that Easter was cancelled, it made me even more determined to make it the best yet. So, if you haven’t already please see my round up of the finest stay-cation ideas from the community here.

Fortunately, it seems that my idea to bring the pub to our house has tempted Alex to stay at home.So today, we’ll probably be doing a Easter Egg hunt, followed by a traditional fish and chip pub lunch in our own kitchen an then finish the day watching the free streaming of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Super Star.  

Eating fish on Good Friday is a tradition that dates back to ancient times. It’s stems back to Roman Catholic customs to not eat the flesh of warm-blooded animals on Fridays, to acknowledge the death of Jesus.

Good Friday marks the day Jesus Christ was crucified.

Whilst this blog is certainly not aiming to be religious, I do like that fish Friday’s encourages us to eat more fish.

As a Nutritional Therapist, I believe that fish is an important part of the human diet. I know there’s a wave of veganism sweeping the Western World right now, and I’m certainly not against us eating more plants. However, fish has many health benefits that we need right now.

Fish for mood

Scientific research shows that a diet rich in omega-3 fat found in oily fish helps the nerves in your brain and body to communicate. A deficiency in this essential fat can result in poor brain function, mood alterations and depression.

Fish for immunity

Research also shows that essential fats play a role in boosting our immune system, by enhancing the function of B cells. Deficiency may lead to frequent infections and slow wound healing.

Because we can’t make essential fat ourselves, we need to get them from our diet. The NHS advises that Brits should have more fish in their diet and recommends eating at least two portions a week, one of which should be oily fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, pilchards or sardines.

If you’re 100% veggie or vegan, food sources of omega 3 include walnuts, flax, chia and hemp seeds, or take algae-based supplement instead.

Our favourite omega three rich fish meals include sushi (rolling is easy and fun with the kids), salmon teriyaki (recipe recommended by Ellie – it’s delicious) and smoked mackerel pate. When we can, we buy our fish from Alden’s fish market in Oxford who are still open for business during lock-down.

Do you have a favourite fish recipe? What are you up to this Easter Weekend?

Together we can get through this. Stay well.