Fish sticks and potato salad a favourite

I mentioned recently on Facebook that I made small red potato salad and fish sticks for Tuesday's dinner, and it seemed to generate some interest.
I try to use fish at least once a week, because it is healthy for children to eat fish. But as most parents would know, getting a child to eat fish is no walk in the park. Also, buying, cleaning and preparing fresh fish is not a job for the fainthearted.
Your options, then, are to buy filets that have been cleaned and are ready to cook, or fish slices which isn't a good idea when you have little ones because of the bones. I choose, as another option, the prepared fish stick and fish filets from brands like Captain Highligner, which are tasty and easy to cook. I get up to 60 fish sticks, or usually around 6 - 8 filets, in a box. The other advantage is that these are pre-seasoned with butter, herbs, lime or lemon and other flavours, so you don't have to serve the same taste each week.

These prepared fish offerings are easy to cook -- basically, stick them in the oven at 400 F for 20 minutes and you're done (don't forget to turn once halfway). They should also be cooked from frozen, which means you don't have a hassle on your hands when you get home from work and realise you forgot to thaw out something from the freezer to prepare for that night's meal. The fish is also easy to serve -- no bones to worry about, and it's always tender and easy to chew and digest, which make it a favourite with my little one. The pre-seasoned flavour, too, makes it far more palatable to him.
To be honest, I was very surprised the first time I tried him with fish to see him eat it with such gusto. This is because as a child, I disliked fish intensely, usually because of the bones, and a lot of my dislike had to do with the smell. My mom tried everything to fix this, even serving filets, but my mind had turned against fish, and I was well into my 20's before I got up enough courage to try it again at a restaurant, and discovered I actually enjoyed it. To be honest, fresh fish is something I will still not buy and cook. So for me, too, the Capt Highligner offerings are far more palatable and by cooking it for him, I also get fish in my own diet.
Quite often, the problem with serving fish is finding a decent side. I try to stay away from fries, except the type that I can bake (I don't like to give my son fried foods) but often it's good to mix it up by serving fish and something else. That's where the problem comes in. Because the fish has no gravy or sauce, rice is not a good option, unless it's a vegetable rice. Potato salad is good, as is mashed potato or scalloped potato.
When I am making potato salad, I buy the small potatoes, preferably the red ones because they look appealing on the plate. I leave the skins on, wash them properly and boil them -- not too soft, because you'd end up with an unexpected mash. I cut them in half and put them in a bowl with olive oil, mayonnaise, finely chopped cilantro and whatever else might be in the cupboard -- a can of peaches and cream corn, or peas and carrots. The end result is a delicious moist side that compliments the fish perfectly. And in terms of diet, he's getting his veggies in there.
All in all, it's a healthy meal. Cost for the entire meal for 2 -- around $8. Preparation and cooking time -- 30 minutes tops. Healthy and affordable, and he likes it ... what more can you ask for?

Just a note -- the photo included is not of my actual dinner. I don't get so fancy. The photo is courtesy lovefish.gr