Tuna!

[AdrenelineRush]

Ive been on this forum for a little while now and Ive noticed that Tuna is included in almost all of the fitness diets listed.

I myself was never a fan of tuna until 5 minutes ago when I actually made myself and tuna and mayo sandwich just for the heck of it...and I liked it.


Im just wondering what exactly is in tuna that makes it such a great fitness food?


Thanks!

[Adonis]

protein

[cujo66]

A 3oz can.

total fat 1g
total carbs 0g
cholest. 40 mg
sodium 350 mg (the only draw back)
PROTEIN 18 G

In a training diet that recommends around 40 g of protein 1 6 oz can puts you just about there.

Fish is one of the highest sources of protein and tuna is the easiest to eat. I eat it right out the can once a day just about. You don't have to cook or do anything to it. Just through a little tobasco on it and scarf it down.

[Doughboy]

Not only lots o potein but lean protein at that.
I have a couple yellowfin tuna cans packed in olive oil. Good stuff.

[pliny_2001]

Tons of protein. High quality fats. Very portable. Delicious. Cheap.



Pretty much perfect (except for the mercury).

[Adonis]

But if you eat enough mercury you might turn into the Silver Surfer!

[luggaguy]

That could be a good thing, you might get yourself a movie deal!

[Jeremy Minton]

This is how I make my tuna
can of tuna in water drained
3 to 1 ratio of mayo to mustard
I also add in about 1/2 of a medium apple chopped.
Makes ya 2 full heeping sandwiches.

[Doughboy]

I sometimes add egg to my tuna samiches

[Jeremy Minton]

I use to do some boiled eggs and add the yolk, but not anymore... the tuna is plenty for me. But I am sure for those big body builders, adding 2 or 3 in there would be that extra step.

[tellico]

any suggestions for tuna that don't involve mayonnaise and eggs and tobasco? I don't eat tuna currently because I can't do eggs or mayonnaise without making myself sick for 48 hours, and tobasco on something smushy textured isn't appealing to me, but I'd like to try it if I could find a good way to eat it!

any non-traditional tuna ideas?

[Doughboy]

I got plenty o tuna suggestions but with canned tuna mayo and eggs is all I got lol
Now actually going out and getting fresh yellowfin or another tuna i can give ya some tips

[tellico]

sure, I can do that.... if grocery stores normally carry yellowfin. I've never checked for it but I'm pretty sure there isn't a fish market around here- except for the ones selling soul catfish and goggle-eye from the local swamps and ponds

I'll go to the store this afternoon- what should I pick up in addition to yellowfin tuna? and what kind of veggies/sides go nicely with it?

[orientalkid]

I usually drain the oil off (toxin IMO) and and eat it togather wif cheese on top of wholemeal bread

[Doughboy]

I would have to look at some of my recipes but I can give you a suggestion.

First do you have a grill? Not george foreman a real grill?
If not or even if u do Can you pan fry?

Now one idea is to get a nice tuna filet and season it with your favorite seasonings and throw it on the grill.

Since its winter not many peeps are gonna be grillin outside so panfryin can be your best bud.

One idea is to make a cajun type tuna with salt garlic powder paprika cayenne and lightly rub on the tuna before panfrying in olive oil.

Another is a pepper crusted tuna maybe ahi tuna if available. season with salt garlic powder and a ton of coarsly ground pepper. More types of pepper the better. Like a peppercorn melange with red black and white pepper. Put enough so it makes a light crust on the fish and again panfry it in olive oil.

In both cases while fish is in pan squit a lemon in the pan and on top of fish right before removing to give it a nice flavor

Remember when doing this dont put too put oil in the pan just enough to coat the bottom and the less its cooked the better. Im talkin rare or med rare dont go above that if you cant handle it i say dont waste your money on good tuna to overcook it.

Things to go with it can be like a veggie medeley like broc cauli baby carrots and maybe snap peas which u could steam or stirfry
Try and get seasonal veggies for best flavor like winter squash if u like that.

Also a bit of rice pilaf would be ok as the starch.

There are plenty more ideas some with marinades as well but I need more time to think and look over some recipes. Remember if u try a marinade at home dont do it for longer than 30 min especially when using an acid like lemon for instance or else u will cook the fish then it will be a ceviche

if u into da raw stuff, buy some sushi grade tuna and make a little japanese rice roll it into a ball. slice the tuna so it is to a size to sit on top of the ball of rice but on the side of the tuna touching the rice rub a little wasabi and a bit of soy on it. If u want more bite get some thinly fresh sliced ginger and put it on top

[biscuitman357]

I second the concern above about the mercury in the cans. I tend to get the bagged kind though it's a little more expensive.

Problem with tuna is it's hard to swallow dry. That's why people need mayo on it. What I do is blend a tomato and add that plus a little olive oil in my tuna. Keeps it moist. Unfortunately your bread falls apart if your tuna is too moist. Hence again why mayo is popular.

I just blend the tuna, tomato and a little olive oil together and drink it. Eating tuna sandwiches seems good because tuna is messy unless you have bread. And mayo. Unfortunately thats just fat and carbs you don't need. It's like the baked potato quandry. Baked potatoes are good for you. Except it's hard to eat the damn thing unless you are pouring cheese and sour cream on it.

Good thing about tuna is it's easier on your digestive system than other meats. We have to face it, our bodies were not designed to eat meat in the quantities that most Americans eat meat. That stuff rots in your gut while your body fights to digest it. The more your body has to fight to digest that crap, the less energy you have to work out/live life. I think that's a very very underrated and often ignored part about fitness and diet, that adjusting how hard your body has to work to digest the food you are putting into it is a major factor in your energy levels.

I like tuna, I'd rather drink it blended (yeah I know , that's kind of gross) if I have to have it. But I'd still recommend checking out powder spirulina. It's protein without the negative aspects of eating meat and it allows you to have a much softer diet in general.

[tellico]

dougboy- Thanks for the suggestions- I'm eating more and more fish these days, usually cooked to flaking, though. Maybe I should try tuna at a restaurant first (where they'll cook it to the right done-ness ) before trying at home- I'm notorious about being a paranoid meat cooker, and tend to overdo it the first time I cook a new meat or in a new way. It all sounds soooo yummmyyyyy. I'll bookmark this so I can come back when I delve into cooking tuna

biscuitman- why does bagged vs. canned affect the mercury content? I thought the mercury concern was because of high mercury levels in the fish's aquatic environment, therefore ending up in the fish meat. Do bagged tuna companies source different regions for their tuna? I'll try the tomato/olive oil/tuna combo, but I don't think I'll drink it!! Along those lines, maybe turn it into a salsa- if I simmered it in pan with Corona, tomatoes, onions, cilantro etc., chili, s/p, (in other words, just add it to salsa borracha) would it get tough?

I'm off to experiment!

[JoeBAR]

I can eat tuna of the can (oil or water, I don't care) mixed in white rice without mayo (thought I prefer WITH!).

I've also found tuna sandwich with tomatoes (can without mayo again, but need a little low fat margarine-like spread) and red pepers (the big sweeties, not hot stuff) pretty nice without mayo (though again, I do them with as well ). French style bread is better for this imo, though I almost only ever eat wholemeal toast.

[Adonis]

All of the above sound good, except

Originally Posted by biscuitman357

I just blend the tuna, tomato and a little olive oil together and drink it.

That sounds terrible as a beverage

[iluvwmn]

I agree with adonis..That sounds like drinking puke.