When you think of tuna salad, what comes to mind? Do you have fond childhood memories of that simple 3-combo goodness of mayo, tuna, and white bread? Or maybe you’re having nightmares of soggy smelliness that stunk up the lunchroom and had you sitting alone in the corner?
Regardless of your memories of tuna, there are a lot of reasons to include this lean protein in your meal plan. You’re going to learn why you should consume this protein-packed, low- calorie, high-antioxidant food and also get a quick, tasty recipe for healthy tuna salad.
Health Benefits Of Tuna
Tuna is one of the most protein-dense foods you can eat. There are a number of different types, everything from the prized blue fin tuna, to yellow fin, albacore, and skipjack varieties. When it comes to canned tuna, it’s mostly going to be albacore or skipjack.
The nutritional content of each variety of tuna will differ slightly, but all tuna has very similar macronutrients – very high protein content, low fat, and zero carbs.
Not only is tuna a great choice because of that macronutrient breakdown, it also has the following beneficial nutrients:
1) Selenium, which is a major anti-oxidant that has been shown to fight cancer1 and improve overall health 2.
2) Omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce chronic inflammation in the body and improve heart and brain health 3.
The problem with most canned tuna is that it’s bland and can taste a little fishy.
One quick fix is to use canned “albacore” and not the “chunk light” variety. Most “chunk light” will be skipjack, which is lower in quality and tends to have a “fishier” taste. Not only does the albacore variety taste better than “chunk light”, it also has a higher amount of omega-3 fatty acids4
| Tuna Salad Only | Tuna Salad Wrap* | Tuna Salad Over Arugula With Goat Cheese |
|
| Calories | 290 | 350 | 350 |
| Protein | 29.5 g | 34 | 30.5 |
| Carbs | 9 g | 20 | 12 |
| Fat | 17 g | 18.5 | 19.5 |
| Fiber | 6.5 g | 13.5 | 7.5 |
Healthy Tuna Salad Ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Albacore tuna | 2 cans |
| Avocado | 1 medium size |
| Red Onion | ½ of medium size |
| Greek Yogurt | 1 tbsp.* |
| Garlic powder | 1 tsp. |
| Cayenne pepper | 1/2 tsp. |
| Sea salt | 1 tsp. |
| Lemon | Juice from ½ lemon |
Tuna Salad Recipe Instructions
Step 1
Assemble ingredients.
Step 2
Dice onions and scoop out avocado. Place aside.
Step 3
Open tuna and drain excess water. This step is very important. Don’t skip this.
Step 4
In a medium bowl, combine the diced onions, avocado, tuna, and optional Greek yogurt and mix together. Add spices and lemon juice. Mix again.
Step 5
Enjoy on its own, as a wrap, or on a bed of arugula (photos below).
Tuna Salad On Arugula With Goat Cheese
Tuna Salad On Oat Flour Wrap
Whether you’re a tuna lover or a tuna hater, I’d love to hear what you think of this tasty, healthy variation. Or if you have your own healthy tuna salad recipe, please share in the comments below.
