When it comes to eating fish, bigger isn’t better.

When we think of sardines, we think of tiny fish crammed in a can. 

Sardines are described as small, oily, silvery fish related to herring. They travel in schools and grow fast and the bigger, fresh variety are delicious. Both canned and fresh sardines are considered some of the healthiest fish in the sea. They pack a nutritional punch with healthy omegas, calcium, iron and potassium. Because sardines are low on the oceanic food chain, they have lower amounts of mercury and PCBs than the big fish and are especially good for children and pregnant women.

Canned sardines are reasonably priced, about the same as canned tuna. The price of fresh sardines varies with availability but are usually less expensive than the other fresh fish on display in the market.