With a new year comes New Year’s resolutions, and I’ve decided to join the countless others who resolve to eat more healthily. As a contributor to Anchorage Food Mosaic Project, I was recently asked what my Food Year’s Resolution was. Fewer cheeseburgers was the first thing that came to mind, but also to cut down on carbs and to eat more healthily in general.

My husband and I are trying out the South Beach Diet, which is a low sugar and carb regimen. The first phase is pretty strict, but that doesn’t limit my ability to cook delicious food.

Today’s lunch was quick to prepare and pretty dang delicious. I love me some smoked salmon, but that stuff is expensive. I wanted to make a dish that had the flavor of smoked salmon, but was a little easier on the pocketbook.

This salad recipe is chock full of nutrients and with the use of smoked paprika, it fulfilled my craving for smoked salmon. I purchased my canned salmon at Costco, but if you’re lucky to have an Alaska fisherman friend, you could certainly make this with fresh-cooked salmon!

Smokey salmon lettuce wraps — A South Beach Diet phase 1 recipe

Makes about 6 wraps

Ingredients:

1 can of Alaska salmon (6 oz.)

1 hard boiled egg, chopped

1 Tbs. low-fat mayonnaise

1 Tbs. fat-free Greek yogurt

1 tsp. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. smoked paprika

1 Tbs. capers

2 green onions, chopped

1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard

salt and pepper to taste

6 butter lettuce leaves

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together (except for the lettuce) until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Place two spoonfuls of salad inside a lettuce leaf and wrap up like an eggroll.

Enjoy in the office or as an after-school snack.