Do you have a picky teen? My 15-year-old usually takes peanut butter and honey sandwiches every day, and I know that gets old. I asked her questions to discover other simple lunches she might enjoy. The winner: tuna salad. Using a couple of pouches of Bumble Bee tuna, I made Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps that she loved.
Packing school lunches for a teen can be a challenge. Ms. Em prefers quick, no-microwave options, so sandwiches are usually the go-to. But even then she tends to stick to peanut butter variations, which can get repetitive by midweek. I hoped these tuna wraps would be an easy, fresh change—and they were a hit. She even ate one for breakfast while I was assembling her lunch.
To keep the wraps from getting soggy, I pack three to four lettuce leaves in a zip-top bag and place the tuna salad in a small sealed container. That way she can spoon the tuna into the leaves at school and assemble them just before eating.
Tuna salad is fast to make and forgiving: a bit of mayonnaise lets you add whatever you have on hand. I had a few freshly boiled eggs, so I chopped one and stirred it in for extra texture and protein.
After chilling the mixture briefly in the fridge, I used romaine leaves for the wraps. I’ve also used cabbage leaves on other occasions; both were enjoyed by Miss Em.
Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps
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Ingredients
Scale
- 2 (2.5 oz) pouches or 1 (5 oz) can of Bumble Bee Tuna
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 boiled egg, chopped
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 green onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 5–6 romaine lettuce leaves, washed and dried
Instructions
- Combine the tuna, mayonnaise, chopped egg, sweet pickle relish, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, chopped green onion, and lemon juice in a bowl. Mix until well combined.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Place the tuna salad in a covered dish and refrigerate for 1–2 hours to let the flavors meld.
- When ready to serve, lay out a romaine leaf and spoon about 1/2 cup of tuna salad onto it.
- Wrap the lettuce around the filling and enjoy.
- For packing school lunches, store the leaves separately in a zip-top bag and the tuna salad in a small sealed container so the lettuce stays crisp until assembly.
What are your favorite go-to lunches for teens? Do you have any great tuna recipes to recommend?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are my own.