Tuna and White Bean Salad with Easy Tomato Vinaigrette

Yes, another salad. It's the new year! Of course we're having lots of salads!

I don't know about you, but I'm working at rid myself of the extra 10 pounds I gained over the holidays. And that means salads.

And exercise.

My mother is the first one to let me know when she thinks I'm overweight. She didn't do that when I was a kid--no, it wasn't until I was a married adult woman. I remember living overseas, anxiously getting a Christmas package from home. We tore off the paper and... there was an exercise video for me.

The video was followed by many years of gifts of various fitness paraphernalia: bands, steps and videos of all sorts. Those things that hook on the doorknob, too.

But it wasn't until she gave me an indoor gliding machine that I appreciated it. Especially living here in Central New York, where the outdoors are unsafe (unplowed sidewalks) or just too darned cold/wet to exercise in 6 to 8 months out of the year.

I've been on the glider mostly every day since Christmas, when I was finally able to push the dining table aside and reclaim that room for fitness.

And eating lots of salads.


This one was particularly delicious as a light supper salad: canned tuna (rich in Omega-3 fatty acids), white beans (fiber, and helps regulate my blood sugar), and other assorted veggies, topped with a superb tomato vinaigrette.

I'll spare you the "recipe" for the salad. I'm sure you can put together your own salad. But the vinaigrette--now this was pure, simple genius: equal parts tomato-vegetable juice, extra-virgin olive oil (you could use canola, too) and white vinegar. A little salt and pepper, too.

I just can't rave enough about the dressing. You'll just have to try it for yourself.