My son Augie loves tuna but I hardly ever remember to pack it in his lunches. When Bumble Bee asked me to create an albacore recipe to share with you, I vowed not only to create something that Augie would like but also to start packing it in his lunch more regularly. It’s a crying shame that I don’t already do this because:
- He loves it.
- Bumble Bee Albacore provides lean protein, healthy fat, and important vitamins and minerals.
- It’s a ridiculously fast option.
- We almost always have some in the cupboard.
Augie’s not particularly keen on traditional tuna salad made with pickles and mayo but he often asks for a can of tuna and some crackers as an after school snack. I thought I’d try jazzing that combo up just a little as a gateway to tuna salad. I stuck with flavors he already likes — lemon and cucumbers — and kept it simple and it worked!
Ingredients:
- 1 pouch Bumble Bee® Premium Albacore Tuna in Water
- 1/4 cup diced cucumber
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice (about half a small lemon)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
You will also need whole wheat crackers, grapes and sugar snap peas to make this lunch exactly as I’ve shown it.
If you prefer to use a canned version of Bumble Bee while albacore tuna, that will work just as well, but I would omit the added olive oil if you select a flavor that is packed in oil vs. one packed in water.
To make the salad:
This is a simple recipe that’s great for a weekday morning, so there really is only one step: mix together the tuna, cukes, lemon and oil. Woot! So easy!
I like to use the tuna in the pouch for this because that makes it even simplerpen the pouch, dump it in the bowl. No draining required.
To make the lunch:
Pack the tuna salad into a large silicone cup and place it in the lunch box. I like to use one that’s nice and tall because that way the sides hit the top of the lunch box and the tuna is less likely to spill out in transit.
Tuck the crackers around the tuna cup then add some grapes and sugar snap peas for sides. I went for a bit of a garden theme with this lunch by packing the tuna in a flower shaped cup and adding lady bug and bumble bee picks to the side dishes. (Get it? Bumble bee?? Har har har!) Also, don’t forget to pack a small spoon to make putting the tuna on the crackers less messy!
Do you pack tuna in lunch boxes? How do you enjoy it?
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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
