Protein-Packed Tuna Pasta Salad

Meals like this will make you a lean-mean-machine if you couple them with the right exercise.

I love this meal because of the protein content.  It also doesn't have any "bad" ingredients.  It's healthy and packed with energy.  The calories that it contains are good calories if you use the right pasta.

So here it is... Give it a try!

1.  2 cans of quality tuna

2.  1 cup chopped celery

3.  1 bag of frozen peas thawed

4.  1 cup of avocado oil mayo (use real mayo if you like, we are dairy free)

5.  10 oz. of gluten-free pasta cooked and drained  NOTE:  Here's where it gets tricky.  Use a pasta high in protein.  Don't use a junky white pasta with zero nutritional value.  We use red lentil pasta.  It tastes great and has good texture.  Other pastas with higher protein include chick-pea and bean, but they don't taste as good in this dish for some reason.

6.  1/2 lemon squeezed

7.  1/2 tsp basil that is in a jar or fresh if you like (or pesto)

8.  2 tbsp of olive oil

9.  salt and pepper to taste

Mix up this ingredients and refrigerate.  It's best if served cold.  

If you make 6 servings out of this, the serving calories are 370 (I eat 2 servings per meal).

The protein is 25g/serving if serving six.  If you are working out and trying to get adequate protein, somewhere between 50 and 70 grams per day is good but this could be less if you are less active.

Regardless, this meal makes it easier to get some good protein along with healthy carbs and the benefits of a vegetable (peas).

I enjoy a refuel meal like this after a workout.