Dishing with…Holly Grainger of Cleverful Living | Dish on Fish
“Dishing with…”/ Nutrition

Dishing with…Holly Grainger of Cleverful Living

Hi, friends!

We cannot wait to introduce you to today’s “Dishing with” contributor, Holly Grainger, MS, RD, who is the creator of the new blog Cleverful Living. As an entrepreneur who is also the busy mom of two girls, Holly is an expert in kid-friendly recipes, mom hacks and clever tips for keeping your life fun and functional! We’re just thankful that she took time out of her busy schedule to share some of her knowledge and advice with us today.

Holly Grainger

Read on to learn more about Holly’s love of seafood and the inventive way she’s convinced her daughters to try salmon (hint: think pink!).

Tell us about your blog.

My greatest joy is to outsmart the things in life that are mundane, time consuming, or just plain annoying. I love to turn them into something quick, fun, and surprisingly easy. It hit me…that this is being “cleverful,” so I am calling my new blog Cleverful Living, because I’m going to share all things clever in life and in the kitchen. Cleverful Living will help you enjoy the things we all have to accomplish every day by sharing “work-smarter” ideas that make it fun to get you on the right track.

Why do you love seafood?

It’s a delicious source of protein that is extremely versatile and offers a wealth of vitamins and minerals. And as someone with a long family history of heart disease, I love the heart-health benefits of seafood, as well.

What is your favorite seafood dish to make at home and/or order at a restaurant?

Seafood is my go-to order quite often when I’m eating at a restaurant. Whether it is fresh grouper, sushi rolls or perfectly seared scallops, I never feel like I can make certain seafood dishes at home quite as well as they make them in a restaurant. At home, shrimp– or salmon-based dishes cook quickly and are always tasty and reliable.

What’s next on your “must make” or “must order” seafood list?

I want to learn how to roll sushi at home. I recently bought a sushi-making kit, so I’m ready to get rolling!

What are your tips for people who might be intimidated by the thought of preparing seafood at home?

Seafood may seem intimidating to cook at first, because many people are not as familiar with the various types of fish. However, it is very simple to make and very difficult to mess up! I always recommend starting off simple by using a basic white fish, either fresh or defrosted. Simply season with some salt and pepper and cook it in a bit of oil in a medium-hot skillet until the fish flakes with your fork. Add a spritz of fresh lemon juice and you have a nutritious, speedy dinner. You can also try the same thing with peeled shrimp.

Any words of wisdom for parents who have picky eaters? How did you get your daughters to eat seafood?

Many varieties of fish have a very mild flavor, so start with those first. Also, don’t be afraid to add breading or even start with the premade frozen fish sticks – check the label to make sure they’re baked and whole fish fillet. Children often think of fried shrimp in the same vein as they do chicken nuggets, so try fried shrimp with a ketchup dipper. I found that my girls were drawn to salmon because of the pink color, so I played on that and now serve “pink fish” regularly.

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