Choose plain no-salt sardines, rinse if needed, and offer small occasional pieces. Avoid oil-packed, sauced, and heavily spiced products. Large portions of rich fish can upset sensitive digestion.
Sardines are small oily fish sold fresh, frozen, or canned in water, oil, brine, or sauce. Plain sardines provide protein, omega-3 fats, calcium, and vitamin D.
Commonly eaten on toast, in salads, in pasta, and mashed into spreads. Water-packed no-salt tins are leaner and lower in sodium than brined or oil-packed versions.
Some cans include tomato sauce, mustard, chili, or smoke flavor. Flavor packs with lemon, capers, and olives add acidity and salt. Refrigerate opened tins promptly as oily fish spoils quickly.
