Making sure I eat enough protein, fats (coconut, avocado), and starchy carbs (sweet potato, butternut squash, plantain) each day is key to making sure I have enough energy to get through the day on my AIP Diet.

I have never been a huge fan of fish, but I’m starting to force myself to eat it learn to like some types. This past year, on Fridays outside of Lent, there were times I would “substitute another penance” so that I could eat some meat. I haven’t been able to successfully add dairy, eggs, grains, legumes, nightshades, seeds, or nuts back into my diet yet and I was really worried about how I was going to “survive” the Fridays in Lent this year! 

Thankfully, with the help of my favorite new cookbook, I’ve come up with quite a few “quick & easy” meatless recipes that have been such a blessing and have helped keep my energy up where it needs to be for our full schedule.  One of those recipes is Chunky Tuna Salad.  It’s great on top of baby spinach or mixed greens, as a wrap, or even as a dip with some plantain chips for an afternoon snack!

• 2 – 5oz cans Wild Planet Albacore Tuna (I buy it at Costco.) 
• 2/3 cup red grapes, quartered
• 2/3 cup celery, diced
• 1/2 cup dried apricots, diced
• 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
• 3 tablespoons shallots, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Mix all ingredients together until well combined.

Make Avocado Mayo:  (Note: I halve the cookbook’s recipe and use the following.)

• 1 large ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
• 1/8 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Place avocado in blender. With the blender running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until combined. Add the remaining ingredients and puree until smooth.

Add 1/2 cup Avocado Mayo to Chunky Tuna Salad. Mix until combined.

• Baby Spinach or Mixed Greens
• Paleo Wraps – Original or Turmeric (I’ve had my eye on these ever since I started my AIP diet last March… My husband convinced me to splurge on them during one of our recent grocery shopping date nights. I love them and it’s so nice to be able to eat a wrap made with something more than just lettuce again!) 

Place a bed of baby spinach or mixed greens and a scoop or two of chunky tuna on top of a Paleo Wrap and roll up.

It’s so pretty and colorful with all the ingredients! The apricots are a fun addition and perfect if you happen to be craving something sweet. I like it with or without them…. Below you can see it made with the Turmeric Wrap.

From the Archives:

The Autoimmune Protocol :: My Journey Towards Better Health & Weight Loss with the AIP Diet

The Autoimmune Protocol :: Seven Snacks That Helped Me Survive the AIP Diet

Hearty Healing Beef Stew (Definitely not for Fridays in Lent, but I may or may not have eaten a big bowl on Shrove Tuesday around 10pm and another for breakfast the following Thursday morning, after Fasting on Ash Wednesday!)