I’ve recently become enamored with sardines. Anyone who knows my eating habits can attest to the fact that I’m going through Trader Joe’s sardines soaked in olive oil at a rapid pace. Oddly enough, I enjoy them for breakfast. They are delicious little fish that also have great implications for nature. The Washington Post has even tackled what apparently is a new sardine movement,

Eating smaller fish… offers health benefits. Because sardines eat mostly plants, they do not accumulate high levels of mercury or PCBs the way larger, carnivorous fish such as tuna or salmon do. Sardines also live shorter lives: six years vs. about 10 for tuna, meaning less time in the ocean to absorb hazardous toxins. Those factors, say the Sardinistas, plus high levels of protein and omega-3s, make sardines an excellent option for pregnant women, children and eco-conscious college students on a budget.

Intellectually, it’s a strong case, but to succeed, the Sardinistas must overcome a big cultural hurdle. Sardines look like fish. And most Americans would rather not be reminded that the meat they eat was once a living creature. “The reason we eat big predators [such as tuna and salmon] is not because they are big predators; it’s because they can be cut into steaks,” said Alton Brown, host of Food Network’s “Good Eats,” …”Bluefin tuna is like crack cocaine if it’s good. But we all know what happens if you try to live on crack cocaine.”

[via the Washington Post]