Enjoying Mexican food is a favorite treat for many reasons. Whether it is a part of your heritage, or you are enjoying it for a celebration, trying to manage your diet and eat out at a Mexican restaurant can be difficult. However, some dishes are lower in caloric value than others, which will leave you feeling just as festive and satisfied as some commonly-consumed options. In general, choosing grilled, fresh or broiled foods is a better choice than fried foods when it comes to watching calories.
Salad
Although you might not think of ordering a salad at a Mexican restaurant, you can enjoy some of the same authentic flavors by choosing a fresh salad. Taco salads are not the best choice, with approximately 290 calories in each 1 1/2 cup serving, with an average of more than 13 g of total fat and 800 mg of sodium per serving, which is extremely high. However, having a garden-based salad topped with grilled steak or chicken reduces calories, sodium and fat. Common salad ingredients at a Mexican restaurant are often Southwest-inspired options including fresh corn, black beans, tomatoes, onions or other vegetables. Ask for the salad dressing on the side and avoid any fried ingredients such as tortilla chips.
Fajitas
Fajitas are a common Mexican favorite and can be enjoyed without consuming an excess amount of calories. Steak or chicken is an appropriate choice, but keep in mind that steak has more fat than chicken. Opt for corn tortillas over flour tortillas to save approximately 10 calories and 200 mg of sodium per serving.
Chips and Dips
Chips and a choice of dip are common appetizers before a meal. The recommended serving size for tortilla chips is eight chips for 130 calories. However, if you are concerned with your caloric intake, opt for a fresh salsa over the guacamole or cheese dips, such as queso fundido. A 1-tbsp. serving of fresh salsa only contains 5 calories, while a 1-oz. serving of guacamole has 60 calories and a 1-oz. serving of queso fundido has more than 200 calories.
Soups
Some Mexican restaurants offer soups on their menus. Soups are generally a good choice if they are tomato or broth-based. Soups such as chicken tortilla soup tend to have increased caloric and fat content, with 320 calories and 7 g of fat per serving.
Member Comments