In recognition of October being National Seafood Awareness Month, the Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) Birmingham announced that chef Tim Hughes of Snapper Grabber’s Seafood Market in Vestavia Hills has been named a national SNP ambassador.

In this role, Hughes joins 17 other chefs and TV personalities and will serve as a local spokesperson for the Seafood Nutrition Partnership. SNP focuses on educating consumers about the positive health benefits of eating seafood twice a week, as recommended by the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) and USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Hughes becomes the sole representative from Alabama, and will work closely with the Birmingham SNP coalition throughout October and November.

Chef Hughes displaying “huge” fish. (contributed)

“Being named an ambassador for the Seafood Nutrition Partnership is a tremendous honor, and something that fits perfectly with the DNA of our business at Snapper Grabber’s,” Hughes said. “I am committed to promoting better health and nutrition throughout our community, and partnering with important initiatives like the Seafood Nutrition Partnership and the Alabama Gulf Seafood coalition is a great opportunity. I tell my customers every day, seafood is one of the best proteins you can put in your body, and people are often shocked to learn how easy seafood is to prepare.”

USDA guidelines recommend that Americans eat seafood at least two times per week for optimal health. Only 1 in 10 Americans follow this guideline, according to SNP.

“Being National Seafood Awareness Month, October is the perfect time for our local coalitions to be working in their communities to educate people about the health benefits of eating seafood at least two times per week,” said Linda Cornish, executive director of the Seafood Nutrition Partnership. “Over the past year and a half, we have had the pleasure to work with Chef Hughes and the team at Snapper Grabber’s on sharing the important message of seafood nutrition, and I have been impressed by how they interact with customers, to their food truck, to the work they do sourcing the highest quality seafood products for Southern Living and other Time Inc. publications.

“We’re pleased Tim agreed to serve as an SNP ambassador, and happy Birmingham has someone so committed to bringing healthy seafood to the people of this great city,” she said.

Chef Hughes serves as a spokesperson for the Seafood Nutrition Partnership. (contributed)

SNP Birmingham has established partnerships with more than 90 business groups and community organizations throughout the Birmingham area. Over the next two months, organizers will work with each of them to promote the positive health benefits of eating seafood, share recipes, hold cooking demonstrations, and distribute coupons and other free resources. SNP Birmingham supports the efforts of the national Seafood Nutrition Partnership initiative.

About Seafood Nutrition Partnership

Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit whose mission is to inspire a healthier America through partnerships that raise awareness about the essential nutritional benefits of eating seafood. In October 2015, SNP launched a three-year national public health education campaign in nine American cities, including Birmingham. For more information, visit SeafoodNutrition.org.

The Birmingham SNP coalition consists of healthcare providers, researchers, restaurateurs, food retailers, food media, local small businesses and concerned citizens. For more information on the Seafood Nutrition Partnership, the health and nutritional benefits of seafood or to take the Healthy Heart Pledge, visit www.seafoodnutrition.org, or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.