Lemon Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

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A quick and easy tuna cucumber tomato salad recipe with a delicious homemade lemon vinaigrette dressing recipe. 

By now, I'm sure you all have heard that you should be eating a certain about of fish each week, but you may not know why. Being a registered dietitian, it's a topic close to my heart!

Research has shown that dietary consumption of more omega-3 fatty acids than omega-6 fatty acids tends to support overall health. However, most Americans consume at least 10 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids. To take it a step further, they've found it’s actually the EPA & DHA Omega-3s from fish oil that matter. For those looking for supplementation of these essential nutrients (maybe a spouse who refuses to eat fish like mine?!) at Walmart, you can now find a selection of Nature Made® Omega-3 supplements that clearly call out the amount of EPA & DHA Omega-3s on the front of the label -> the active ingredients in fish that provide heart-healthy benefits.

Related: The Best Easy Taco Salad

This delicious tuna cucumber tomato salad is ready for lunch in no time at all.

Make a few bowls at a time and you can have lunch for the week! It's a favorite of mine, along with my tuna sushi rolls!

You might be wondering what's the difference between fish oil and Omega-3s, and why are they important?

Fish oil comes from a variety of different marine life. This includes fish such as salmon, cod liver, tuna, herring, mackerel, and halibut. Fish oil is a source of Omega-3 fatty acids. There are two very important types of n-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. They are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). DHA and EPA are sometimes called the marine Omega-3s because they mainly come from fish. The body cannot produce these types of fatty acids so we must get them from food sources or a supplement. There is a plant-derived version of Omega-3 fatty acids called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), mainly found in foods like flaxseed, walnuts, and green leafy vegetables. However, only a small percentage of ALA is converted to EPA and DHA.

To review:

Fish oil is a great source of naturally occurring Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are healthy fats that should be included in most people’s diet. The two primary Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are EPA and DHA.

The Omega-3s naturally found in fish oil (EPA & DHA) have been studied extensively for their important roles in supporting heart health.1-2,†

Why is Fish Oil good for you?

Let's take a look at a couple of potential heart-healthy benefits of consuming fish oil. Cardiovascular Disease - Research suggests that eating fish can be protective against heart disease. People who already have heart disease might also lower their risk of death by eating fish or taking a fish oil supplement.

Inflammatory Conditions - Due to fish oils’ anti-inflammatory effects it can be used to help treat a variety of inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and inflammatory bowel disease and joint pain.

This simple tuna cucumber tomato salad is very versatile. You can use whatever veggies you have on hand. 

How to make Lemon Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

1. In a jar with a lid, add the vinaigrette ingredients, shake to stir
2. Place lettuce into 2 salad bowls
3. Top evenly with vegetables and tuna
4. Drizzle with vinaigrette to taste

For another delicious dressing option, try Sweet Vidalia Onion Dressing.

CLICK TO CHECK OUT MORE GREAT LUNCH RECIPES! 

If you enjoyed the recipe make sure to leave a comment and a star rating below!  Then follow me on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe.  I love seeing what you come up with! 

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† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. *Based on a survey of pharmacists who recommend branded vitamins and supplements.

‡State-of-the-art purification processes to remove PCBs, dioxins, and furans, and mercury to ensure purity levels below 0.09 ppm, 2 ppt WHO TEQs, and 0.1 ppm respectively. 1 Delgado-Lista J, et al. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review. British J of Nutr. 2012;107: S201-S203.

2 Mozaffarian D, Wu JHY. Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;58:2047-2067.

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