Tuna Salad Pickle Boats
I have been looking for a way to incorporate tuna into my diet. I have read how beneficial tuna and other fish can be when I am trying to lose weight. My Pickle and tuna salad boats are a great way to get a boost of protein around lunchtime. I am not a huge fan of fish but I knew I needed to include it.
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I have found that when I eat these as a meal I feel full all the way to dinner. I was amazed how a little bit of tuna helped curb my hunger. I am a bigger guy who loves to eat so for a few pickles and some tuna to curb my appetite was a big deal. I had to share.
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Tuna and protein
I'm so happy you're here. 🙂 Note: Smiley's Points participates in affiliate programs. That's how the bills get paid! There is no additional charge to you and I only recommend products I know and love.
We hear it all the time “we need to add more protein to our diets” As much as we hear this phrase, the question is how? How do we add more protein and have delicious food to eat? What if I need to limit the amount of meat I eat? What are some alternatives?
Fish as a protein source
Fish is a healthy alternative to eating meat and, when prepared right, can be a delicious protein to add to your meal plan. Let's look at tuna and how much protein it adds to your diet.
Tuna is a fantastic fish to eat for a ton of different reasons. Canned tuna is a good source of essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality protein, selenium, and Vitamin D. Most tuna species have approximately 2 grams of fat and less than 45 milligrams of cholesterol and sodium. Adding tuna to your meal plan will help you to feel full longer lose weight easier than adding another meat as your source of protein.
1 can of tuna has a whopping 42 grams of protein and only 1.4 grams of fat.
Are pickles good for you?
Pickles are a fantastic item to add to any dish. My wife and daughter even like the juice. I do not. To each their own I guess. Pickles are best enjoyed as snacks or as a substitute for bread as in this case.
First the good about pickles: This food is low in Saturated Fat and very low in Cholesterol. They are also a good source of Vitamin A, Iron, Potassium and Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin K, and Calcium.
And the bad: Pickles are very high in Sodium, and a large portion of the calories come from sugars. Luckily one large pickle (approx. 4 inches long) has only 16 calories.
Is tuna ok for keto diets?
Yes!!! enthusiastically yes. Tuna like most fish is perfect if you are following a keto diet. I do not follow keto but I have lowered my carb intake and I have found that I do have more energy and I have not plateaued as much as in previous years. Tuna and other fish have been a large part of helping me to feel full longer.
I am a big fan of Built Bars, but this tuna dish actually helps me to feel full longer and is super easy to make. I still eat Built Bars and enjoy them but some days I just seem to be more hungry than others. On those days I reach for these tasty treats.
How to be successful on myWW
- mindset: this isn't a diet, don't let yourself feel deprived. Eat your points or Bites!
- tracking: I track everything, even zero point foods
- portion control: this is on my fridge to keep me mindful
- persistence: I wrote this poem about never giving up
- planning: I use meal plans and freezer cooking often
- support: I'm in my low point recipe Facebook group daily
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- cost: Healthi formerly iTrackbites costs $36 for the year (using this link for 40% off makes it $36 if you use COACH_SMILEY as the code. You need to put in the code to save the MOST $$$), WW is $16+ for the month, and it's the same formula! UPDATE JAN 2021 — sign up for a free account, then use code COACH_SMILEY after your profile is set up. Click DISCOVER PRO, enter the promo code, and you'll get Healthi formerly iTrackbites for just $24.99 a year!! Use this tutorial if you're unsure of how to use a promo code on iTrackBites. (They keep changing this!! So I update this tutorial often.)
- choices: I can choose PointsPlus, Freestyle, or any other plan I want with Healthi formerly iTrackbites. Even with the new WW changes, they only offer 3 plan options (not PointsPlus).
- logs: You can export your tracker data by the week, month, or quarter with Healthi formerly iTrackbites. WW does not give you access to quarterly data.
- accuracy: I've found inaccurate info in the WW app due to members submitting and not paying attention to the right numbers. With Healthi formerly iTrackbites, I know if I see the green check, it's been verified as accurate. This puts my mind at ease!
A Few of SmileysPoints Best Recipes
BLUE PLAN: 1 Point
GREEN PLAN: 2 Points
PURPLE PLAN: 1 Point
Pickle Tuna Salad Boats
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Delicious lunchtime meal
Ingredients
3–4 large dill pickles (approximately 4 inches long)
1 (6oz) can of flaked light tuna in water
1/4 cup diced red onion
⅓ cup diced celery
1/4 cup of Light Mayo
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 pinch of Pepper
Instructions
Cut the pickles in halves lengthwise.
Using a melon baller or a small spoon, remove the center of the pickles to create a hollow boat.
In a medium bowl mix tuna, onions, celery, mayo, paprika, and pepper.
Using a spoon, stuff pickles of mixture evenly.
Enjoy
Notes
2 halves per serving 🙂
