6 Ways to Make Mexican Dishes Healthier

1. Hello to Spicy Goodness, Goodbye to Sodium

Mexican food is often high in sodium, but with a little culinary creativity, it's easy to make healthy Mexican food that's also out of this world delicious. Skip the prepackaged seasonings, and try using the spices in your kitchen cabinet. Staple seasoning in Mexican food include cumin, cayenne pepper, chili powder, oregano and pepper. Cilantro and lime juice also provide an authentic Mexican flavor. Hot green peppers are a super metabolism booster, and can be cooled down by removing the seeds. The secret is to start small and adjust the seasonings according to taste.

2. Try a Fish Taco

Fish is a terrific source of healthy omega 3 acids, and a great way to make Mexican food healthier. Almost any fish can be used, but should be broiled or poached to cut the fat. If you aren't ready to make the change to fish, try skinless chicken or ground turkey, are great alternatives to beef in Mexican recipes.

3. Pile on Those Vegetables

Vegetarian Mexican food is not only delicious, it's culturally authentic. You won't even notice the missing meat when you pile on the corn, shredded lettuce and chopped onions. Dice some yellow squash or zucchini, or chop a bit of sweet green or red pepper. Fresh tomatoes add both flavor and color. You can roast the vegetables, steam them just until they're tender, or use them fresh and crisp.

4. Wrapping up Healthy Mexican Food

It's hard to imagine Mexican food without tortillas, but you can make Mexican dishes healthier by using whole wheat, corn or even sprouted wheat tortillas. It isn't necessary to give up chips and salsa, either. They can be made by slicing tortillas into strips. Add a sprinkle of seasoning, bake them on a cookie sheet, and voila! You have deliciously crispy, healthy, fresh-out-of-the-oven tortilla chips.

5. Top it Off Right

You can make low-fat Mexican food by keeping an eye on your toppings. Limit the guacamole and stick to low-fat sour cream. Although it's hard to imagine a Mexican meal without cheese, keep it to a minimum and choose low-fat white cheeses instead of yellow cheeses for a healthy dish full of flavor.