Picking out fish bones teaches patience?

Food isn’t just sustenance – it’s identity. For some, a good meal is an Instagram trophy. For Bengalis and Keralites, it’s a sacred ritual – and fish is the high priest. A new study by University of Bristol is bound to have them, and other fish-loving communities, grinning from gill to gill. The study examined the behaviour of thousands of seven-year-old children and their seafood intake, finding that kids who eat more fish are 43% more likely to share, help their mates, and generally act less feral.

This is because fish is rich in vitamin D, iodine, selenium and Omega-3 – all of which positively affect brain development. But is it really the Omega-3 at work, or is this just about parents who can afford to serve fish? Maybe there’s something about carefully picking out fish bones that teaches mindfulness, patience and focus. Or perhaps in a household where fish graces the table, mealtimes are more communal – fostering empathy and connection.

One thing’s certain: if fish truly makes kids nicer, the rest of the world has some catching up to do. Until then, fish eaters can sit back, sip their preferred drink, and debate what all this scientific brouhaha is about. For them, fish isn’t a behavioural supplement – it’s comfort food. Why overanalyse it? Just pass the hilsa or karimeen, please.