Support Your Local Fishmonger

You can't beat fresh fish

Maine Sail is one of Britain's excellent fresh fishmongers selling the very best quality fish.

What's more, fish prices, unlike most other foodstuffs (other than beer!) are static and even falling in some cases.

Eat more fish

Most people don't eat enough fish. We should all be eating at least two portions of fish a week and one of those portions should be an oily fish.

Fish and shellfish are rich in protein and minerals and oily fish is also rich in those very important omega 3 fatty acids.

Fish is an excellent source of protein and contains essential vitamins and minerals such as selenium and iodine.

White fish such as cod, haddock, plaice and whiting are very low in fat. Oily fish is rich in omega 3 fatty acids and a good source of vitamins A and D. White fish contain some omega 3, but at much lower levels than oily fish.

Fish such as whitebait, canned sardines, pilchards and salmon - where you also eat the bones - are also good sources of calcium and phosphorous, which help make our bones stronger.

Shellfish contain similar nutrients to white fish and similar amounts of omega 3, though some types of shellfish contain more omega 3 than others. For example, crab and mussels are quite good sources of omega 3, but prawns contain hardly any. Oily fish are the best sources of omega 3. Shellfish are good sources of selenium, zinc, iodine and copper.

For the healthier choice, go for poached, baked or grilled fish, rather than fried, because fried fish is much higher in fat, especially if it's cooked in batter. But this doesn't mean you need to stop having an occasional portion of fish and chips.