Healthier Eating Options At Mexican Restaurants

With its emphasis on fried foods and cheese, you may think that your favorite Mexican restaurant is off limits if you are following a healthy diet plan. But it doesn't have to be. When armed with the right information, you can still eat Mexican food without blowing your diet.

Appetizers

While you may be tempted to nibble on the chips and salsa delivered to your table to tide you over until your meal arrives, with more than 400 calories in a typical serving, you may want to ask the waitstaff to take it away. Instead, choose a side salad without cheese or croutons and ask for the dressing on the side for a lower-calorie appetizer option. A bowl of broth-based soup also makes a good choice, although it can be high in sodium.

Entree Salad

An entree salad can make a healthy meal choice when eating at a Mexican restaurant. Look for salads with grilled meats, instead of ground or fried. You can also ask your server to go light on the cheese and have the dressing served on the side. If your salad comes in a tortilla, don't eat it, or request your salad come in a bowl instead. Depending on the restaurant, a grilled meat salad without dressing or the fried tortilla bowl can have 475 to 700 calories.

Tacos

Tacos also make a healthier meal option at a Mexican restaurant if you skip the cheese and sour cream. Ask for corn tortillas instead of flour, and load your taco with vegetables and salsa for extra flavor without all the calories. Calories for a grilled meat corn tortilla taco can range from 170 to 340 calories, depending on the restaurant. Instead of an order of refried beans with your tacos, ask your server for some extra salsa or a side of rice and beans.

Fajitas

Fajitas also make healthier options with its grilled meat and vegetables. Fajitas, however, can have close to 1,000 calories per serving. Like the taco, ask for extra pico di gallo and skip the sour cream and guacamole to try to reduce your overall calorie intake. You can also use fewer tortillas. In addition, ask your server to replace the refried beans with rice and beans.