The Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) is releasing tools early to help retailers push up sales of seafood during National Seafood Month in October.
Emphasizing family meals together, SNP has created a Partner Toolkit for retailers and marketing partners to use.
“SNP is here to inspire Americans to enjoy seafood at least twice a week by showing how buying and preparing seafood is simple and delicious,” the organization said in a press release.
“Be thankful for October, after the back-to-school rush and before the holiday hectic. It’s the perfect time to focus on sitting down together as a family to regroup,” SNP said. “Renew your commitment to creating and serving meals at home that nourish your kids’ bodies, brains, and help them flourish for life.”
Research shows that having regular family meals can be “life-changing,” said SNP President Linda Cornish.
“When children and parents gather around the table and engage each other in conversation, we see the kinds of outcomes we all want for our children: higher grades and self-esteem, healthier eating habits and weight, and less risky behavior,” Cornish explained.
The Food Marketing Institute Foundation is also partnering with SNP to reach out to retailers, encouraging them to get involved in National Seafood Month education and promotions.
“They are sending out the retail toolkit as well as adding it to several of their external communications such as newsletters, blog posts and the SmartBrief [e-newsletter],” Andrea Albersheim, SNP’s director of communications, told SeafoodSource.
SNP’s Partner Toolkit includes:
1.) Quick and easy weeknight meals: Many seafood dishes can be cooked in 15 minutes or less, the Partner Toolkit said, as it provides suggested cooking methods and times for several different types of seafood.
“Try the 10-minute rule, which says you should measure the fish at its thickest point, and cook it for 10 minutes per inch, turning halfway through the cooking time. That means a thin fish like sole or perch cooks in about 4 to 5 minutes, while a thicker salmon or tuna steak might be closer to 15-20 minutes,” the Toolkit said.
The Toolkit also provides several easy “family meal” recipes, such as Shrimp Pesto Pizza and Alaska Pollock Burrito Bowls.
2.) Health facts: “The benefits of seafood for kids are big! Fish and shellfish supply the nutrients, vitamins and omega-3s essential for strong bones, brain development, and healthy heart and immune system,” the Partner Toolkit said. “Studies show that seafood just twice a week for kids leads to better attention span, better grades, and better sleep.”
“The fats found naturally in seafood, omega-3s EPA and DHA, are essential to our health,” the Toolkit said. Plus, fish has more vitamin B12 and vitamin D than any other type of food, according to the FDA.
3.) Fun was to “engage your Little Seafoodies”: For younger kids, make seafood visually appealing, such as sandwiches shaped like fish. Encourage kids to dip fish and shrimp in ketchup, barbecue sauce, and other sauces,” the Toolkit said.
4.) Seafood 101: Helping customers be more confident in purchasing seafood. According to FMI’s Power of Seafood 2019 report, consumers would like to try different types of seafood if someone advised them. Eighty-four percent of seafood consumers and 50 percent of non-seafood consumers said they want more knowledge on how to cook/ prepare seafood.
5.) Blog and social media posts, such as: “We care about the health of you and your family! That’s why we are celebrating families this October during National #SeafoodMonth, offering [insert tips, promos, mealtime solutions, or other highlights].” Use #SeafoodMonth and #FamilyMeals hashtags.
