Some Mexican dishes can be a healthful eating nightmare – think chips, cheese…and more cheese! Here are my tips for making healthier choices when dining out Mexican style:
Choose soft shell tacos over hard shell. Hard shells are fried, whereas soft shells are not. Do yourself one better and ask for corn tortillas over flour tortillas to save even more fat and calories. Order black or pinto beans over refried beans, which are often made with lard or bacon. Skip the cheese dip for your chips. Use the gratis salsa that usually comes with your meal instead. On the topic of chips – hello – I could mindlessly eat an entire basket if I’m not careful! Ask for a small plate and portion out a set amount. Try and make those last for your entire meal. If you still don’t think you can control yourself around the chips, ask your server not to bring them out. Try to avoid deep fried dishes like chalupas, taquitos and chimichangas. Opt for healthier items like grilled chicken or shrimp and chicken or veggie fajitas. If you’re in the mood for a taco salad, order it without the deep-fried taco bowl. It’s basically one, big, fried tortilla chip! Do yourself another favor and use salsa as salad dressing. Ask for the sauce that would usually come slathered over your burrito or enchilada on the side, so you can dip your food into it. Chug water. Some Mexican food can be very salty – you’ll thank yourself later by staying hydrated throughout your meal! Every once in awhile…go all out. Life is short. Mexican food is delicious. :D
I definitely do not follow all of these rules when dining out in Mexican restaurants – half the fun is eating those crunchy, fresh tortilla chips and dousing your enchiladas in red sauce. Pick and choose where you can give and take, and I promise your experience will be even more rewarding!
What’s your best healthy eating tip for dining out at restaurants?
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