Low Calorie Italian Tuna Salad

A few years back when my husband wanted to lose some weight I went on a hunt for some new low calorie recipes to add to our menu. The weight loss took several months and he grew very tired of low calorie meals, but the effort paid off with the loss of about twenty-five pounds. My husband is a meat-and-potato guy, so this was very tough for him, but he really appreciated my efforts in the kitchen. It was fun and challenging to be as creative as possible to help him stay the course.

This recipe for Italian Tuna Salad is one of the recipes I tried. I made a few changes to better suit our likes. The salad dressing I use is lite, not fat-free, so my calorie count is a little higher than it would otherwise be. We still are enjoying this salad, after weight loss, during the hot summer months. The vegetables, hunks of white Albacore tuna and beans cause it to be a hearty and satisfying salad even when not looking to lose weight. Blessings...

Recipe: 

1 can (15 ounces) cannelini beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion, red or white
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup sliced ripe olives
2 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tbsp.)
2 tbsps. minced fresh parsley
1 cup lite Italian Salad Dressing
2 cans (5 ounces each) solid white Albacore tuna (about 2 cups meat)

Combine all ingredients in a large salad bowl; cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to blend flavors.

Yield: 6-1/2 cups
175 calories per cup
3.5 grams fiber per cup