Allow space for kids to change their minds about fish.

“I don’t like fish.”

How many of us have a child, spouse, or self who says that?

My guest today says that’s off course – no one can accurately say they “don’t like” “fish” – and I love her reasons!

Whether you love fish or haven’t learned to love it yet, this non-fishy interview all about the fish of the sea is a winner:

  • Have you ever gotten to know your fisherman? Watch my surprise as I do for the first time…
  • How to find the best fish for the biggest health benefits
  • Why some fish are harder to cook well (and deliciously) than others
  • What to look for in a store or restaurant to make sure you’re getting sustainable, healthy fish
  • Why ocean stewardship is of primary importance for fishermen and their families

Find well-fished seafood with all the omega-3s at Sena Sea Seafood!

Find all the episodes of the Healthy Parenting Handbook here, or wherever you get your podcasts:

Don’t forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts too! Thank you!

Can’t see the video? Watch More Than Fish Sticks here on YouTube!

No time for the video? Here are the notes!
These time stamps align with the video and not the audio podcast, but they should be pretty close!

Teaching Kids to Like Fish

  • 1:25: Sena shares her story with us. She’s a third-generation fisherman’s wife. She tells us a bit about their lifestyle as a fishing family.
  • 6:00: Sena’s children are 10, 13, and 16 now. They don’t remember a time when they weren’t going out on a boat and helping dad fish.

black cod

  • 9:25: Fish is one of those foods that’s very common on the “do not like” list for both kids and adults! Sena gives her tips for encouraging kids to like fish. There are a lot of varieties of fish and many ways to cook them, don’t lump them all into one category!

Some days kids are great eaters, and some days they’re not. -Sena Wheeler

Health Benefits of Fish

  • 13:30: What are some of the benefits of eating fish? Go for the high omega-3 fish for maximum benefits. Fat is what makes fish healthy and what makes it taste good.

High omega-3 fish: * great for brains, * reduces inflammation * regulates blood sugar copper river sockeye salmon black cod (aka sablefish or butterfish) Higher fat means more moist, tastes better in the mouth

  • 15:50: When Sena is feeding friends fish, she likes to use black cod, which is really moist and tender. It’s a great intro for kids who say they don’t like fish.

Sourcing Sustainable Fish

  • 19:16: Let’s talk about labeling. What are the words we want to look for or avoid? “Wild” and “sustainable” are best. If you find Alaskan fish, it’s automatically wild and sustainably caught because no farms are allowed in Alaska.
  • 22:46: We’re very concerned with ocean stewardship (that’s why we choose only reef-safe mineral sunscreen). Sena shares how they are involved in sustainability and conservation.

In Alaska, fishermen are ocean conservationists. We're very passionate about sustainability. -Sena Wheeler

  • 27:25: Sourcing good-quality fish is very important. If you’re convinced of this now, listen in to how you can source the best quality fish for your family! Get Sena Sea Seafood here.
  • 28:56: Look out for the word “Atlantic” on fish labels. That’s basically code that it’s farmed.
  • 31:36: We leave you with an action step you can take today. Try a different variety of fish from what you’ve tried before!

Kids don’t need plastic knives. They need real skills.

Teach safe technique, focus, and confidence in the all-time fav lesson from our kids cooking class! (ages 2-12)






Or find out more about the free knife class here.

My Review of Sena Seafood

We did a side-by-side blind taste test with Sena Sea vs. ButcherBox.

Previously ButcherBox had trounced salmon from the store, both Aldi and Meijer brands. In some ways that makes sense, because BB sells Sockeye Salmon, which is a very different mouthfeel and “fishy-ness” factor compared to the less expensive salmon you buy on a budget.

Sena Sea vs ButcherBox would be apples to apples, sockeye to sockeye. The family was somewhat split, but everyone (who likes salmon anyway) said that both were really good, no complaints. My kiddo who doesn’t do fish…didn’t do fish. 😉

My husband noticed one big difference and proclaimed the ButcherBox salmon fishier on the aftertaste, at the end of a bite. He thought ButcherBox was also more firm, but I thought Sena Sea was more firm, so who knows?

My “professional” opinion is that Sena Sea salmon definitely tastes fresher (i.e., less fishy) and firmer, which in my book is a positive trait. It’s very high-quality salmon!

You can see my full review of ButcherBox meat, plus ordering tips. 

salmon by a river

Resources We Mention for Sourcing Sustainable Fish

Sena Wheeler Sena holds a master’s degree in nutrition and food science and is a third-generation fisherman’s wife. Sena Sea Seafoods is the culmination of her family’s rich fishing history, their desire to share fresh, never-farmed fish, and their commitment to ocean stewardship. Visit her at senasea.com where she sells premium wild Alaskan fish direct from the fishermen and blogs about family, fish, and food.