Are Jellyfish The Next Big Thing In Healthy Eating?

In many countries, food laws surrounding labelling are unclear when it comes to fish and chips. Think about it. You would never just order "meat" off a menu: you would order chicken or beef. But with fish and chips, you may not think twice about what kind of fish you are consuming.

This is how we end up consuming endangered species of fish all over the world, illegally caught and sold as "fish," "flake," or sometimes even as "cod." It is estimated that 95 different species of fish are endangered as a result of this illegal fishing.

This conundrum has sparked research into ocean sustainability projects such as the one spearheaded by Marine biologist Lisa-ann Gershwin.

Many species of jellyfish are edible, and several varieties, such as the Blue Blubber, wash up on beaches across South-East Queensland. They're practically begging to be eaten!

Nutritional Benefits

Edible jellyfish are fat free and protein-rich, and best of all, available in abundant quantities in our oceans.

"They only have about 36 calories in a three-ounce (about 75-gram) serving, so you practically talking iceberg lettuce here," says Gershwin.

Sure but, what do jellyfish taste like?

Gershwin admits it's an acquired taste, not recommended without a good marinade. "A cross between cucumber and salty rubber bands." A long-time staple in China, toasted sesame has been a common pairing with jellyfish.

If you're expecting the texture of jelly, you would be mistaken. In fact, they have a "surprising crunch," she says, likely due to the fact that in order to prepare them for consumption, they need to be cleaned, dried and preserved in alum. "Like a salty pancake," says Gershwin.

Chinese, Japanese and Korean cultures have been consuming jellyfish for thousands of years. Perhaps it's time the rest of the world embraced this sustainable protein as well.

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If Jellyfish is not really your thing...

You don't have to jump on this bandwagon if it reminds you of alarming meal ideas like Seagull Stew or Opossum Pie, or any other post-Apocalyptic culinary suggestions.

You can be sustainable in your diet by reducing the amount of meat you eat. In our BodyRock Meal Plan, we offer simple recipes that are often created around plant-based proteins. You can easily find sustainably-sourced fish in your local grocery store, or swap out fish altogether by looking into our Swaps page in the recipe book.

Best of all, get this whole guide for an additional half off today, if you use the code NOJELLY4ME

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