The Calories in Mexican Food
Mexican food served in the United States is often packed with calories, sodium and fat. Choose carefully if you dine at a Mexican restaurant.
Mexican food served in the United States is often packed with calories, sodium and fat. Choose carefully if you dine at a Mexican restaurant.
Many Mexican foods are high in calories and served in large portion sizes. Before you go, learn the calorie content of your food choices so you can make an informed decision.
The growing Mexican population in the U.S. has led to an increase in authentic Mexican restaurants and increased the American taste for the foods, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By avoiding dishes high in fat, you can find...
It can be hard to work Mexican food into a low-calorie diet. The food category containing tortillas, tacos, burritos, nachos and quesadillas is the eighth greatest source of calories in the average American diet, according to the 2010 Dietary...
A cheese quesadilla is high in fat and calories. If you are watching your weight, choose a dish that provides more vegetables when dining at a Mexican restaurant. Also steer clear of high-calorie side dishes and condiments.
Some nights you don't have the time or the energy to cook up a five-course meal and you turn to the Taco Bell drive-through for dinner. Fast food can be a reasonable choice, but you should be aware of calorie contents so you don't overindulge.
One cheese enchilada is not high in calories, but if you eat more than one or pair it with typical Mexican side dishes, the calories quickly build up. Cheese enchiladas are also high in fat.
Tortillas are round, flour-based wraps that are used for burritos, soft-shell tacos and many other Mexican foods. Because of their similarity to bread, they can be used to make wraps for a new twist on sandwiches.
A quesadilla is a Mexican dish that consists of tortillas filled with cheese and other ingredients, such as ham. Because cheese and ham are high in fat, this meal is high in calories and may not be a good choice if you're dieting.
According to El Chico's official website, this restaurant chain was founded in 1940, and as of 2010, it has more than 75 locations. El Chico's website explains that each of its locations prepares a wide variety of food, including classic Mexican...
The Taco Bell Chicken Crunchwrap is a Mexican-inspired dish that includes not only a crunchy taco but also a soft tortilla shell wrapped around chicken, lettuce and other ingredients. Although many of the ingredients are healthy, such as chicken...
A beef, bean and cheese burrito is high in calories, although you won't ruin your diet if you consume it on its own without any side dishes and watch what you eat the rest of the day. But it's also loaded with fat and sodium.
Pork green chili, sometimes known as chili verde, is a traditional Mexican dish. The chili has a stew-like consistency and is often served on flour tortillas or beans. Pork contains a large amount of calories, as do several other chili ingredients.
A quesadilla is a Mexican dish that is comprised of a tortilla filled with cheese, or queso, and other ingredients such as peppers, onions and meat. While chicken and cheese quesadillas can be rich in protein, they are also high in calories.
Zantigo is a Mexican American restaurant chain with seven locations across the state of Minnesota. The chain consists of quick service restaurants with casual dining atmospheres. Zantigo offers a number of different Mexican-inspired meals, such as...
Fried tortilla chips are a staple at many Mexican restaurants where they are served with salsa as a complimentary treat. These are a fried version of the corn tortillas used to make tacos, enchiladas and other Mexican classics. Fried tortilla...
Enchiladas are a type of fried Mexican wrap, made with flour tortillas, cheese and a variety of other ingredients. Although enchiladas typically contain meat, you can make vegetable enchiladas stuffed with peppers, spinach, tomatoes and spices....
Mexican food is a popular cuisine for dining out. However, many items on the menu of a Mexican restaurant contain high amounts of sodium and saturated fat, according to the American Heart Association. You can still eat out at your favorite Mexican...
El Toro is a Mexican restaurant chain that has been in Texas since 1960, according to the restaurant's website. The chain has a number of locations throughout Texas, and offers grilled entrees, traditional Mexican favorites and appetizers....
According to the official website for Bajio restaurants, this chain has a variety of southwest and Mexican-inspired dishes, including tortilla soups, salads, tacos, fajitas, burritos and enchiladas. Although many of these menu options include...
Chipotle opened its doors in 1993 at their cornerstone location near the University of Denver. Since that time, the mexican food grill has expanded to over 950 locations in the United States and Canada, as well as to a brand new location in...
Although tortilla chips and guacamole are based on healthy ingredients -- grain and avocado -- the combination of these finished foods is not necessarily healthy. Chips and guacamole can be a high-calorie way to start your meal, so check nutrition...
A quick Internet search on diets will produce a long list of diet programs, fads and trends. A lot of these offer conflicting information. One diet advises you to avoid certain foods altogether and another tells you to eat those foods in bulk. A...
Although traditional salsa -- the kind you'll find jarred in grocery stores and at tables in Mexican restaurants -- is made with tomato as the primary ingredient, you can use other foods as a base. One variation is fresh pineapple salsa, which has...
Mexican coffee is an alcoholic beverage made with coffee, whipped cream, liqueur and cocoa powder. Because of these extras, Mexican coffee is much higher in calories than is regular coffee.
The standard American diet consists of calorie-dense and nutrient-poor foods and beverages, according to research by registered dietitian David Grotto published in "Nutrition in Clinical Practice" in 2010. Along with increased portion sizes, bad...
Enjoying Mexican food doesn't mean derailing your healthy eating habits. According to Eating Well, many typical Mexican ingredients, such as corn, chilies, beans and tomatoes are high in nutrients and low in fat and calories. Many Mexican food...
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...
You may find pork burritos on the menu when you go to a Mexican or other Latin American restaurant. Pork burritos, which include a tortilla filled with pork and other fillings, can be delicious and satisfying meals. They provide a variety of...
Mexican food can be quite healthy when it's homemade and avoids fried foods. Learn about making your own healthy Mexican dish in this video.