Nutrition Trivia – 10 Facts About Calamari

by TwinToddlersDad on June 7, 2010

in Food Facts

Over the weekend we had dinner at a local pizzeria and Italian restaurant. We got the usual kid’s cheese pizza for the twins while we ordered fried calamari as an appetizer for the two of us. I was surprised to see my son dig into the fried calamari for the first time as he reached for the crispy rings several times. Even though we often enjoy calamari, I didn’t know much about its nutritional value. After researching various sources, I compiled these 10 facts that will interest you!

  1. Calamari, usually deep fried, is a popular appetizer in many restaurants. The word calamari comes from Italian and refers to squid.
  2. Squid belongs to a class of sea animals known as cephalopods found in over 300 different species.
  3. Squids can range in size from a few inches to several feet; the largest squid found so far weighed over 1000 pounds!
  4. Squids are capable of swimming fast and many species can actually fly through air. They can also change color to camouflage against both prey and predator. Another weapon in their arsenal for survival is an ink like chemical they release when threatened. This ink is safe for human consumption; in fact several pasta dishes are made with it in the sauce.
  5. Most squids have 8 arms and 2 tentacles. Most of a squid’s body is edible.
  6. Found in oceans all over the world, squids are popular in many cuisines in Europe, Mediterranean, Asia and Japan. Over 2 million tons of squids were harvested
  7. As a food source, it is very rich in selenium, vitamin B12 and riboflavin.
  8. Squids contain a lot of cholesterol. Depending on the composition of batter and oil used to fry the calamari, it can have a lot of sodium, trans and saturated fats. Certainly moderation is advised even though it tastes good!
  9. Squids do not have a shell, but they are related to shellfish. Although not very common, they can be a source of food allergy.
  10. Although fried calamari is most popular,  squid sushi is also common.

Have you tried calamari with your kids? Please share your experience in comments below.

Photo: Wikimedia commons
©2010 Littlestomaks.com

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  • calima

    This weekend we also went out for dinner and ordered calamari as an appetizer. I grew up eating squid in a variety of forms and it is a favorite of mine. I offered some calamari to my four year old, but she would not touch it. She is still very wary of new foods and ate mac and cheese while we had nice food! (her mac and cheese was actually very nice and cheesy, but just plain and white).

  • TwinToddlersDad

    We were surprised too when our 4 yo really liked fried calamari! I am not sure why it contains so much cholesterol; still researching about it.

  • calima

    Hello,

    I was surprised too when I read that they are high in cholesterol. We are not eating the gonads (like in sea urchins) and as far as I know they are not warm water animals, so the high cholesterol is puzzling!
    Hope you find out more.

    Celia

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  • Scarlett

    We went out tonight to celebrate my husbands birthday and my 3 year old son was two fisting the calamari. I think e ate half he order himself and ten ordered jumbo shrimp wit basmati rice as is meal :) Too bad about the high cholesterol! I was shocked to see how much it had.

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