Protein Packed Tuna Salad (without mayo)

In a lunch rut? This crunchy, flavorful, protein packed salad is a great addition to your weekday lunch routine. You can double or triple the recipe and have it ready to go in your fridge for multiple days of lunch or dinner. I hate mayonnaise but love the protein and ease that canned tuna provides. I have been making iterations of this since I was a kid and my mom always put veggies in our tuna. The brightness of the lemon and spice of the mustard give this salad a boost. Make sure you buy wild- pole and line caught tuna. The tuna should be packed in water (not oil) and not have added salt :)

Ingredients:

• 2-3 cans wild tune - pole and line caught in water (no salt or oil added)

• 3-4 carrots cut into 1/2 inch pieces

• 4-5 stalks celery cut into 1/2 inch pieces

• 1-2 apples diced into 1/2 inch pieces

• 1 Tbs dijon mustard

• juice of one lemon

• 2 Tbs Oil and Vinegar dressing ( We like Newmans Own) or 1 Tbs Olive Oil/1 Tbs vinegar

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp pepper

Steps:

Open cans of tuna, drain water and dump into a medium sized bowl. Using a fork break up chunks to form lots of flakes. Add carrots, celery, and apples and mix well. Add dressing, mustard and lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste using more of less depending on how you like it. Play around with adding more or less lemon, dressing, and mustard. I like to top with capers.

Other ideas include; pickles, radish, cucumber

Delicious as a salad, sandwich, with crackers or on it own. Filled with protein and fiber it keeps you satiated for a while and is a great post-workout lunch.