Because I’m a bit of a healthy nut (just ask my husband), I tend to be very particular and purposeful about the foods I purchase.  That’s not to say that I won’t indulge every now and then.  But for the most part, I stick to all-natural foods.  I don’t eat beef, pork, or any type of dark meat (i.e. poultry) so I’m a bit limited as far as my sources of protein.  I rely a lot on fish because it is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Before the scare of mercury in fish, tuna sandwiches were a regular part of my diet (it was not uncommon for me to have one or two servings a week).  I’ve since cut back, due to the nursing baby, but I still find tuna to be the easiest (yummiest) way to get in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.  My favorite way to eat tuna is simply with a little sour cream and some whole wheat crackers or bread.  But as a member of the Bee Squad, I’ve been challenged to step it up a bit and try different products and recipes using tuna.

As a member of the Bee Squad, I receive products to sample, courtesy of the company.  I’ve been holding off to try their Tonno in Olive Oil simply because I’ve always been somewhat opposed to eating tuna in oil.  My thought was, why add extra fat and calories?  But, I’m willing to try a lot of things (even if I don’t end up eating them regularly) so I tried their Tonno in Olive Oil last week with my husband.  It’s simply light tuna, olive oil, and salt (in that order).  Don’t you love products with ingredients you understand?  The can, which is 2 servings, provides 110 calories, 5 grams of fat, 1 g of saturated fat, 0 g of trans fat, 30 mg of cholesterol, 220 mg of sodium, and 15 g of protein (wow!).

As far as taste is concerned, I didn’t really notice much of a difference.  In other words, it still tasted like tuna.  But I found it to be much moister than, say, their light tuna in water.  My husband, who always eats tuna with mayonnaise, ate it from the can without adding anything to it. It’s packed in olive oil, so I’m not concerned about the added fat or calories.  You could easily make a sandwich and not have to add mayonnaise, because it’s not dry like other types of tuna. Overall, I think the best use of this would be in a recipe (at least for my own personal use).  I ike to add something to my tuna and combining sour cream with this tuna would just make it unnecessarily high in fat and calories.

Tonno in  Olive Oil is available in select markets.  Visit their website for more information.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  As a member of Bumble Bee’s Bee Squad I receive product samples and information related to the company.

One of my goals for this year (and every year) is to eat healthier foods and increase my level of physical activity.  And I hope that one of the results is to shed this baby weight.  Bumble Bee Foods has launched a site called BeeWell for Life. The site is the new home of the BeeWell Miles program.  On it you’ll find resources “to make fitness and nutrition fun, rewarding, and fulfilling.”  The site is geared not only to your body but to your mind and spirit as well.

I signed up for the site as an incentive to get active.  It also provides a physical log of both my food intake and activity to see where I need to improve. The site offers much in the way of support and information for getting healthy…bothy physically and mentally.  You’ll find a community you can join for fitness tips, nutrition questions, or simply to make a new friend. My favorite part of the site is the area where Stephanie and Willow, two registered dietitians, share menus and recipes.  Here is their latest (which I am planning on making in the next week or so):

1 can or pouch (5 oz) Bumble Bee Tuna, drained and flaked

½ cup chopped tomato

3 tablespoons low-fat milk

6 large raw eggs, beaten

2 slices Swiss cheese

Combine tuna, tomato, milk and eggs. Pour tuna and egg mixture into a prepared 9-inch microwave safe casserole.  Cover and microwave on HIGH 90 seconds.  Remove lid, stir, cover and microwave on HIGH about 3 minutes longer.  Stir at 1 minute intervals until barely firm. Preheat broiler.  Place cheese slices on top of eggs and broil to melt  as desired.

Here’s a summary of the various aspects of the site:

BEE ACTIVE

Take advantage of helpful exercise tips from Coach Jenny, the training programs and tracking tools available inside your account.

BEE DELICIOUS

Each week, nutritionists Willow & Stephanie bring you insightful articles, tips and ideas to help you eat well and BeeWell! They share what they’ve eaten in a given day, along with a detailed nutrition breakdown using our Log & Share Your Meals tool. Every other week, Willow & Stephanie will review a full-day’s meal(s) from one BeeWell for Life member(s) and provide detailed feedback about what’s working, what’s not, and how to make the most positive changes to get the most out of your meals.

BEE THE DIFFERENCE

This year, make your miles matter! For every mile you walk/bike/run and log between now and October 31, 2010, Bumble Bee will donate $0.15 to Breast Cancer Network of Strength. With your help, our goal is to walk 1 million miles as a community.

BEE SOCIAL

Connect with the community and learn from others from around the country. Looking for motivation to stay or get in shape? Looking for a partner to train with? Want to share a delicious homemade recipe that’s working for you? Have a personal story you’d like to tell? You’re not alone. All across the country conversations are coming alive in the forums at BeeWell for Life.

If you’re looking for a way to help you attain your fitness and healthy goals, check out BeeWell For Life. You can join for free.  And if you do, be sure to connect with me via their community!  And to stay up to date on the latest news and updates on the BeeWell for Life program, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  As a member of the Bee Squad, I receive information and product samples.

When I delivered my son two years ago, my husband asked me what I wanted once I was able to eat after the c section.  Without question I wanted a tuna sandwich from Islands.  For some reason, I just seem to crave tuna when I’m pregnant.  But because I have to limit the amount of seafood I consume, I only get to eat it several times a month (when I’m not pregnant I eat it at least 2 times a week).

There are numerous ways to prepare tuna salad.  But my favorite is one that I tried at a gourmet sandwich shop years ago.  I don’t have the same exact recipe that they used, but this one comes pretty close.  What makes it taste so good is the replacement of sour cream for mayonnaise.  

- 2 small cans of White Albacore Tuna in Water
- 1/3 cup Dried Sweetened Cranberries
- 2/3 cup chopped Fuji Apples
- 1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
- 2 Tbsp. minced fresh Dill
- 1/2 cup Sour Cream

There are a ton of different options to choose from when you’re shopping for tuna.  For many, many years (as in, since I was a child), we’ve been eating Bumble Bee Tuna (I like the White Albacore in Water).  I was recently asked to be part of a brand advocate team for Bumble Bee Foods called The Bee Squad. I don’t take the fact that I’m representing their brand lightly.  Each and every product and company you see on my blog has been carefully considered.  I turn down many “pitches” every week (I should screenshot my inbox one day!).  Over the next few months I’ll be telling you more about this company that I am proud to say is consumed regularly in our home.