Why Fish is Phenomenal

One of my favorite forms of lean protein is fish. My mother-in-law jokes that my eating plan should be called "The Herring Diet" because I ate it almost every day for lunch while I was losing the 25 lbs. Of course, it goes deeper than that. But, unless you're allergic, are a non-fish-eating vegetarian or have some other health reason why you shouldn't eat it, you'd be wise to develop a taste for fish. Aside from being low in calories, fat and cholesterol, and high in iron, zinc, iodine and selenium (not to mention Omega-3 fatty acids in some types such as salmon, herring and tuna), there are so many different ways to prepare and eat fish that you won't easily tire of it.

Here are a few of my favorite ways of preparing fish:

1. Fish tacos--Broil, grill, bake or pan-saute fish fillets and serve in corn or whole-grain tortillas with shredded cabbage, black beans, salsa, fat-free sour cream, avocado and a sprinkling of shredded cheese, if you like.

2. Grilled salmon--Marinate salmon fillets in teriyaki sauce for at least 30 minutes before grilling.

3. Tilapia with Black Bean Salsa--Grill or broil tilapia. Mix one can black beans, drained and rinsed; one small can diced tomatoes, drained; 1/4 cup salsa; chopped cilantro. Serve salsa on top of fish.

There are scads more recipes, too. Go to cookinglight.com for more ideas.