MCLEAN, Va., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Eat more seafood.  This creed was abundantly clear for the first time in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans released January 31, 2011.  

Every five years for the past three decades the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) have released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  This year, for the first time, the guidelines include a strong recommendation for all Americans, especially pregnant women, to eat eight ounces of seafood per week, which equals at least two weekly servings.

What may be shocking to some is that Americans, on average, eat approximately just one serving of seafood per week, and pregnant women eat even less than one-half of a serving per week.  This is far below the recommendation for at least two servings per week.  

SHRIMP is the perfect answer to this challenge!  One three-ounce serving of shrimp contains just 83 calories and two grams of fat, while delivering healthy omega-3s, essential nutrients and a whopping 20 grams of protein.  Shrimp is quick and easy to prepare, and it's the perfect protein addition to dozens of everyday meals.  It's easy to get the recommended eight ounces of seafood each week by tossing shrimp into a favorite salad, pasta dish, soup, or casserole.

"Beef, pork and poultry contain solid fats and are mostly devoid of nutrients, but the fat content of seafood, nuts and seeds comes from the form of oil and is full of nutrients," according to Robert Post, Deputy Director for the USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.

The American Heart Association has advocated for many years the benefits of seafood twice a week to reduce the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death among American men and women according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Additionally, new evidence reveals that pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should consume at least eight and up to 12 ounces of seafood each week to improve their baby's eye and brain development.  

"To incorporate more seafood into your diet, use familiar recipes and swap out the same old protein for seafood like shrimp." said Jennifer McGuire, MS, RD, National Fisheries Institute.  "To make your family's diet seafood-rich, think beyond lunch and dinner.  Add shrimp to an omelet for breakfast or to a Panini for an afternoon snack for the kids."

For easy ways to weave shrimp, the super shellfish, into your diet, check out dozens of recipes courtesy of The Shrimp Council on www.EatShrimp.com.

SOURCE The Shrimp Council