All food styles and origins have decadent and healthy choices alike. Sometimes it is the taste buds driving the ordering, and sometimes it is the waistline. Either way, it is still possible to order a healthy and tasty meal from any type of restaurant or make healthy meals at home. Remembering a few simple tips will help keep the calories and fat down when eating out.
Pass on the Fried
Many Mexican dishes offer fried tortillas or chips. These items make the meal higher in fat and sodium. Picking a healthy Mexican food dish involves avoiding all the fried options, including refried beans. Nachos and other items with hard crunchy shells are also items to avoid. Pass on the free chips and salsa before the meal to keep the calories down to a minimum, just as you avoid the free bread at other restaurants. Also avoid anything that includes additional breading around it.
Sauce on the Side
From salad dressings to the sauces that cover enchiladas and burritos, all these items add extra fat and calories. Even an olive oil vinaigrette can add on calories in large amounts. To keep calories and fat down, ask for no dressing and use oil and vinegar from the table for a light dressing. Or ask to have the dressing on the side. In terms of smothered-style foods, fat-free verde sauce is one of the healthiest sauce choices. As with salads, it is better to ask for the sauce on the side and dip into it as needed.
Dairy Don'ts
Sour cream and all the cheeses spread over Mexican food can add up to a lot of calories and fat very quickly. Ask for fat-free sour cream or cheese on the side instead of letting the food be brought to the table smothered in cheese. Some restaurants may have nonfat choices for both the cheese and sour cream, but it is healthier overall to just eliminate or reduce both of those items. Avocado, while high in fat, is a healthy fat and offers a creamy texture to food.
Alternatives
When picking healthy Mexican food choices go for grilled or "fresco" meat options over sauteed or fried. Fish or shrimp is also lower in calories and fat than chicken, pork or beef. Choose nonfat black beans over pinto or refried beans. Replace rice or dirty rice with brown rice or vegetables without butter as a side dish. Choosing veggie burritos or enchiladas instead of meat options will also cut back on the calories.
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