Northern US and Canadian Shrimp

America's favorite seafood, shrimp, have a complicated story to tell. More than 80 percent of the shrimp currently sold in the U.S. (most of which is farmed) is imported from farms in Southeast Asia and Latin America where environmental regulations are lax. And even in the U.S., trawling for wild shrimp has had a devastating impact on the seafloor and the plants and animals that live there. Fortunately, requirements to use devices that reduce the catch of unwanted animals (bycatch) such as sea turtles have improved this situation. The good news is that there are ocean-friendly options that are low-contaminant choices for children.

How to shop for it

Buying shrimp can be complicated if parents are trying to make food choices that are both healthy for their children and sustainable for the future generations. To help parents make the best choices when buying shrimp, SeaWeb has prepared a Parent Buying Guide for Shrimp that you can download.

How to cook it

The options for preparing shrimp in kid-friendly dishes are limitless.

For the smaller cocktail and salad shrimps: Mix them into just about any dish—omelets, salads, soups, etc.—to add low-fat protein, texture, and flavor. Try them as a pizza topping or sandwich filling.

For the larger U.S. farmed shrimp: Use them for all your favorite shrimp recipes. Large and flavorful, they are the perfect shrimp for grilling on skewers, stir-frying, or tossing into pasta dishes.