{This simple + delicious Whole30 meal series is sponsored by Tessemae’s. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.}
Whole30 lunches are always a struggle for me. Before I did my first round of Whole30, my go-to lunch was a PBJ sandwich or a granola bar and a piece of fruit or string cheese. Something easy and that I didn’t have to think of. No real cooking required. Turning on an oven during the lunchtime hour? Ain’t nobody got time for that.
This can be a bit of a problem in the world of Whole30 eating where protein is a mealtime necessity. Obviously I could prep a bunch of chicken breasts at the beginning of the week to use in salads or something, but I’m way too lazy for that (ahem…did you not read the title of this post?). Breakfast is easy…eggs + spinach + sometimes bacon…all day errday. Cooking a protein at dinner time feels justified, since I’m feeding the whole family and not just myself. But lunchtime is a struggle. Often my first instinct is to grab a Larabar (dude…it’s totally Whole30…even if it’s not in the true spirit of the plan. My lazy girl self totally tries to justify this far more often than I should), but I know it’s not the best choice. But what are my other options?
Enter my new go-to lunch favorite:
TUNA SALAD UN-SANDWICHES!
Here’s what you’ll need:
– 2 cans of albacore tuna
– 1 apple
– 2 pickles
– lettuce (optional – to use in lieu of bread)
DIRECTIONS: (It’s pretty self-explanatory, but just in-case…)
– Drain water from tuna and dump in a bowl
– Add diced apples and pickles
– Add mayo until you achieve your desired consistency
– Eat it on its own, or scoop into lettuce leafs (I’ve done the lettuce thing before and it’s good, but I’m lazy and just eat it solo usually)
You’ll note that this makes a heaping bowl of tuna salad. That’s because I always make extra so I can turn this into lunch for the next 3-5 days (depending on how hungry I am). This was a go-to meal during my first round of Whole30 as well, but I often found myself avoiding making it, because I didn’t feel like making my own mayo…even though it’s totally easy, because: LAZY. Anyway, Tessemae’s makes a totally delicious Whole30 approved mayo, which makes the whole process a lot nicer. Thanks for enabling my laziness Tessamae’s. I love you.
I like to pair my tuna salad with a giant helping of baby carrots…mostly because they are the only raw veggie that I can actually stomach (aside from spinach. I heart you spinach.) and raw veggies = no cooking = happy mama. I’ll also often add a little bit of fruit and a handful of plantain chips, although I’ll say if you’ve never tried plantain chips and are about to embark on the Whole30 for the first time…just say NO! Plantain chips are totally my “sex with your pants on” food. Damn you plantain chips. I just can’t quit you. But inevitably I end up going back for seconds (OK, often 3rds and 4ths too…).
Anyway. I digress. The point is, that you should totally make this tuna salad. It’s delish. And as an added bonus, the pickles and apples tricked my three-year-old into loving it too, which made me feel like a superhero mom. She now requests tuna sandwiches on the regular. I make hers on bread, because I pick my battles over here and bread just ain’t one of them.
Happy lunching busy/lazy friends!
Love,
Lauren
You had me at Lazy Girl. I’ve never done the Whole 30 but I love me some tuna. I’m not sure I’ve ever done it with apples before. Guess what I’m having for lunch tomorrow!
love the apple idea def trying it
Lauren,
I am on Day 10 of my first round of Whole 30 and this helps so much.
It’s a struggle to stick to this especially working in an office who always eats out!
Glad to have options that isn’t a salad because I am bored to death by the idea of eating a salad for every meal! Thanks girl!
@Karmel – I feel you! I am SO not a salad fan. Actually…I almost never eat salads on Whole30. Usually I do tuna for lunch or a chili lime chicken patty from Trader Joe’s…or eggs…again. I really grew to love eggs during my first round of whole30, but I know they can get real old, real quick. Good luck!
Yum! This looks tasty, Lauren! Glad to know about the tessemae’s too. 🙂
@Cassidy – YES! Tessemae’s is SO good! Their ketchup and BBQ sauce is life changing.
i just received my tessemae’s order today and can’t wait to try the mayo! I followed your recipe for the tuna salad the other day and the Apple was a great choice. Is there a certain brand of plantain chips that you use? I can’t find them in any store near me.
@Ashley – I get mine at Trader Joe’s. I know Whole Foods also carries them. So glad you liked the recipe!
Making this for lunch tomorrow!
@Becca – Yay! It’s totally my fave.
I’m on day 9 of Whole30 and your tips and tricks are a lifesaver for me! LOVED your TJ’s shopping list! I have to say it’s taken me this long just to navigate what foods I can eat, meal ideas, etc. The first few days I was totally lost and eating only nuts and fruits like a squirrel! Thanks for the great ideas 🙂
Hi Lauren,
Love love love your site! I too am a mom of two little ones and preparing to embark on my first Whole30 challenge. I’m wondering what your go-to family friendly meals are for your hubby and kids (assuming they don’t eat Whole30 as well). I have a 2.5 year old and a 10 month old that are both veggie adverse. I can definitely see myself eating a lot of bbq meat + grilled veggies but wondering what to feed my picky kiddos!
@karen – Some favorites for my family were: chicken stir fry (I made a sweeter peanut sauce to put in for them after serving my plate, so my daughter would be enticed by the veggies), shepherds pie (no cheese on my portion), chicken strips (for the coating I dipped them in egg and coconut milk and then in a mixture of almond meal, cashews and unsweetened shredded coconut). Overall though, they pretty much just ate what I ate with an added starch. Most dinners were meat + a veggie and I might make brown rice or have a side of bread for them. I made typical stuff for the other meals, but I couldn’t bring myself to do more than one dinner. They got used to it after awhile, though my daughter still isn’t a veggie lover. Before I did Whole30 though, she refused to eat ANY meat and now she actually likes a lot of it!
Just a note, you shouldn’t be eating that much tuna a month, let alone a week; especially albacore. Albacore tuna has much higher mercury levels than chunk light, and an adult should only have about 3oz. per week of chunk light!!!
http://www.edf.org/oceans/mercury-alert-canned-tuna-safe-eat
I wanted to add that I’m not some I loony, anti-tuna weirdo, lol. My sister-in-law’s brother ended up with mercury poisoning, which caused Bell’s palsy on the left side of his face, from eating too much tuna.
Are you actually able to find the Tessemae mayo at the grocery store or do you have to order it? I was able to order the shelf stable (before opening) avocado oil mayo from Primal Kitchen, but I’d love to try Tessemae’s without having to order it though 🙁
Also, what brand of pickles did you use, if you don’t mind me asking…it’s been VERY difficult for me to find Whole30 compliant pickles, and when I did they didn’t taste very good to me…maybe I should make my own, lol.
Thanks for the great lunch idea!
Hi Lauren,
Just curious. After your first and second rounds of whole 30, do you try to eat whole 30 all the time, as your new lifestyle? Do you eat whole 30 but incorporate any non approved foods? I did a whole 45. I may do another or try to eat whole 30 but eat non approved foods for celebrations or some protein shakes and bars with it.
What’s your sheppards pie recipe for whole 30?
Thanks so much!