As you may imagine, we’re rather passionate about smoked meats here at Wiltshire Smokehouse. And, as traditional smokers since 1994, we’re also dedicated to making sure as many people as possible try them for themselves. Smoked foods aren’t just great for elegant evening parties or luxury canapes. They are a brilliant way to introduce different textures and flavours into everyone’s diets, from your littlest ones right through to the food connoisseurs in your life. With all the information out there about safe eating, this is our guide on how to serve smoked meats to the whole family.
Is Smoked Fish Unhealthy?
One of our most popular products is smoked salmon. Packed with protein, omega fatty acids and many other essential nutrients, it is a brilliant addition to everyone’s diet. The abundance of DHA makes it the perfect food to help with brain health and development in small children and the good levels of Vitamin D which helps them to absorb calcium for strong bones. One thing to be aware of is that all salmon is high in sodium (salt). 100g of smoked salmon can have as much as 672 mg of salt which can damage a baby’s kidneys and increase their blood pressure. As we get older, it is still advisable to moderate your salt intake as excessive amounts can significantly raise your risk of heart attacks in the future.
How Much Smoked Salmon Is Safe?
The NHS advises against giving smoked salmon too early on – cooked salmon fillets are the best way to get these essential nutrients into your little one. However, it is a brilliant addition to your child’s diet from 1 year old. The NHS recommends giving under 5’s a minimum of 2 portions of oily fish per week. This is roughly around 40g per portion.
How to Bring Smoked Salmon Into Your Family’s Diet
The brilliant thing about smoked salmon is that there are literally hundreds of recipes online that show you different ways to use it.
- It goes perfectly with breakfast staples such as egg and avocado on toasted muffins.
- Serve it with a roasted jacket potato topped with soft cheese, chives and a drizzle of lemon.
- Stir it into cooked pasta with peas, creme fraiche and a sprinkle of chives
We promise you – go on Google and search ‘smoked salmon recipes’ and we know you’ll find one that the entire family will love!
Is Smoked Cheese Healthy?
Cheese is one of those foods that split the world in half – people that love experimenting with every different rich flavour and those who either stick to cheddar or boycott it altogether. In our opinion, there are very few meals that wouldn’t be improved with a sprinkling of blue cheese or a drizzle of melted cheese on the top. According to the British Heart Foundation, cheese is a brilliant source of protein and calcium. However, it can also be very high in saturated fats and sodium that, if eaten in excess, can lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure. 30g of cheese will provide 7% of your daily calories and has more salt than a standard packet of crisps. Many blue kinds of cheese can be high in salt – including Roquefort which has some 1.06g of salt per 30g portion.
How Much Smoked Cheese Is Safe?
The UK recommendation is that your daily diet should include 3 x 30g portions of dairy products with cheese making up one of these. Children between 1-3 years old should have 350mg of calcium a day, including milk. While blue cheeses do have high levels of salt and should therefore be used sparingly in your diet, they are also very flavoursome. Therefore, you need very little to flavour a dish – even a sprinkling of our Oak Smoked Blue Stilton is enough to bring a recipe to life!
How to Bring Smoked Cheese Into Your Family’s Diet
The flavours from many smoked cheeses, such as blue cheese, may be too much for the youngest members of your family. But they can add tang and punch to dishes in many different ways.
Consider:
- Crumble over a fresh tomato salad.
- Use in an omelette with crispy bacon and fresh parsley.
- Make a smoked walnut and blue cheese butter to melt over meats and poultry.
- Use instead of parmesan or cheddar to flavour pasta dishes.
Is Smoked Pate Healthy?
Pate is largely made from liver products or fish. Smoked mackerel pate, for example, is high in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids while smoked trout pate also offers Vitamins B3, B6 and B12. Trout has often been compared to foods within the ‘superfoods’ category, making it a brilliant addition to any diet. As oily fishes like salmon, it is best to manage your intake of fish pate, to ensure you don’t exceed the suggested sodium levels in your diet.
How Much Smoked Pate Is Safe?
Because of its rich flavours and high-fat content, most people reserve pate dishes for special occasions. If you’ve chosen a liver pate, the NHS recommends eating this no more than 1 time a week. For fish-based pates, follow the same guidelines as smoked salmon – no more than 2 portions per week.
How to Bring Smoked Pate Into Your Family’s Diet
The best way to serve smoked pate is with an array of crackers, toasted baguettes and pieces of bread. The rich flavours from the fish mean you’ll need very little to accompany these products – just a few fresh celery sticks, radish slices or chopped dill. The great thing about pate too is it’s easy for little ones to get involved. Add breadsticks to the table and encourage them to dip in.
Smoked products, such as smoked salmon, smoked meats and smoked pate, bring a new dimension to your family’s diet. With a host of health benefits and flavours that promise to delight, we’re confident you’ll love bringing them into different meals and celebrations.
Browse our range of quality smoked goods on our website today or get in contact to speak to one of us too.
