I can’t stop buying this anti-inflammatory ingredient from Trader Joe’s

There are plenty of fish in the sea, but until this year my fish choices were mostly salmon and tuna. While I love recipes like our Garlic Butter Roasted Salmon with Potatoes and Asparagus and easy Tuna Cakes with Vegetables and Lemon Dressing, I wanted to expand my palate and offer some variety. That’s when I discovered Trader Joe’s Sardines in Olive Oil. After buying them on impulse the first time, they’re now a must-have ingredient when I shop at the store—here’s why.

Sardines are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat that offers a number of health benefits. Eating more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to support heart health, protect eye health and reduce inflammation. In fact, sardines are one of the best foods for fighting inflammation because the fat has been shown to increase your cells’ ability to rid themselves of harmful components. Eating a 100-gram serving of Trader Joe’s sardines from a can contains 1.7 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, which is the adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids (1.6 grams for men and 1.1 grams for women).

I love that it’s not only healthy but super easy to incorporate sardines into my meals. Trader Joe’s sardines are packed in oil and have no skin or bones. I appreciate that the fish comes boneless, as removing all the little bones can be a nuisance (even though they are safe). Since the sardines are already prepared, I can add the fish to my meals quickly and without any hassle. Purchasing these sardines is also a sustainable choice as the product comes from Morocco. Sardines caught in the Atlantic Ocean in Morocco are recommended as a sustainable option by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch.

One of my favorite ways to eat sardines is on a bagel with veggie cream cheese. It tastes similar to smoked salmon and is one of my favorite lunches. You can also try adding sardines to our tomato toast with herb cream cheese. At dinner, I like to use sardines in pasta. It’s an easy way to add protein to a dish, and sardines pair well with a variety of flavor profiles, from simple lemony spaghetti with parmesan and thyme to one-pot pasta with tomatoes and basil. Just chop the sardines up and stir them into the pasta so you get a little something in every bite.

These sardines have a long shelf life, so you can stock up so you always have some in your pantry (but if you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself using up the cans quickly!). At $2.49 a can at my local store, this is an inexpensive way to get more fish on my plate, so next time you’re at Trader Joe’s, grab some sardines and thank me later.