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  4. What Do I Do With Canned Fish?

What Do I Do With Canned Fish?

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Canned fish is a convenient way to incorporate fish into meals and packs in many nutrients and is healthy for the whole family. Canned fish options that may be available in your program include canned salmon, Atlantic mackerel, sardines, Pacific chub mackerel, and light tuna. Continue reading for more information or jump right to recipes that utilize canned fish.

Counseling Corner

Canned fish is loaded with nutrients; it is protein-dense and provides beneficial omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Canned fish, like salmon, sardines, mackerel, and light tuna are also a source of vitamin D, vitamin B12, choline, iron, zinc and iodine. Canned fish that contain  bones provide calcium. Check out the Eye on Nutrition series to learn more about these and other nutrients and dive into the Meal of the Month series to find other nutrient specific recipes.

Help participants learn about and include different types of protein foods in their diet. They can start simple and build towards an eating routine that can meet dietary recommendations for eating fish.

Allergy Prevention


Introduce potentially allergenic foods along with other complementary foods. This may reduce their risk of becoming allergic to these foods. These types of foods include fish and shellfish (like shrimp or crabmeat). 

More information can be found in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Participants can also be encouraged to talk with their primary care provider for recommendations. 

Choking Prevention


Check carefully for bones in canned fish, which could be a choking hazard. When removing the bones, break the fish into small pieces and remove any bones using (clean) fingers.

Visit Reducing the Risk of Choking in Young Children at Mealtimes for more information.

Tips & Ideas to Share

Tips for Serving New Foods

It may take a child up to 8 to 10 tries to accept a new food.

  • Start simple and add familiar flavors, spices, and food combinations.
  • Offer at the start of the meal or snack.
  • Try serving new foods in a meal with other food they like to eat. 
  • Let your child help make meals. Children get excited about tasting foods when they have been involved in the prep.
  • Serve foods in small portions at meals and snack times.

Tips for Cooking and Using

  • Swap or add canned fish to favorite recipes.
  • Eat right out of the container, canned fish is cooked and ready to be eaten.
  • Rinse sodium-containing canned fish before eating. This removes some of the sodium.
  • Swap canned salmon or mackerel into a favorite tuna recipe for something a little different!

Ideas to Try (no recipe required!)

  • Spread on a cracker with a drizzle of freshly squeezed lemon and olive oil.
  • Mix with plain yogurt for a creamy dip.
  • Add finely chopped celery or onions, herbs, and a squeeze of lemon.
  • Splash with hot sauce, lemon, and sprinkle with fresh herbs.
  • Combine into pasta dishes to pack in the protein.
  • Add sardines to toast, salad, pizza, and more.

Recipes

Canned Mackerel Recipes

Mackerel with Squash

Canned Salmon Recipes

Fish Tacos with Tangy Slaw

Mini Salmon Loaves (Available in Spanish)

Salmon Burgers (Available in Spanish)

Canned Sardines Recipes

Sardine, Cucumber, and Tomato Sandwich (Available in Spanish)

Canned Tuna Recipes

Mediterranean Tuna Salad (Available in Spanish)

Quick Tuna Casserole (Available in Spanish)