HELP - I'm addicted to Mexican food!

Phoenix_Rising

Someone help! I ADORE salsa, as well as the chips that move that salsa straight into my mouth. I also love Mexican food. My extended family always meets up after church on Sunday for lunch at our favorite local Mexican restaurant. Other than reigning in on the amount of chips I eat, what can I get that is low cal (and still satisfyingly tasty) at a Mexican restaurant?

Lately, I have been ordering a bean tostada. It's a hard flat tortilla with a layer of beans, lettuce and cheese. I top it in a layer of salsa so thick you can't see the food below.

Tell me, is this the best choice I can make?

To complicate matters a little further, I'm not exactly a vegetarian but I despise ground beef, don't like Mexican pork, and really am not a fan of chicken either. When possible, all my Mexican meals (including Taco Bell) are made with refried beans.

HELP!! Advise me please!

Phoenix_Rising

Someone help! I ADORE salsa, as well as the chips that move that salsa straight into my mouth. I also love Mexican food. My extended family always meets up after church on Sunday for lunch at our favorite local Mexican restaurant. Other than reigning in on the amount of chips I eat, what can I get that is low cal (and still satisfyingly tasty) at a Mexican restaurant?

Lately, I have been ordering a bean tostada. It's a hard flat tortilla with a layer of beans, lettuce and cheese. I top it in a layer of salsa so thick you can't see the food below.

Tell me, is this the best choice I can make?

To complicate matters a little further, I'm not exactly a vegetarian but I despise ground beef, don't like Mexican pork, and really am not a fan of chicken either. When possible, all my Mexican meals (including Taco Bell) are made with refried beans.

HELP!! Advise me please!

LokiFae

Salsa is actually really low in fat and calories. It's the chips that will get you. I always either try to limit the chips or bring a bag of pre-cut carrots or celery. If we go to Mexican (which is very rarely), I never limit myself, because I'll feel deprived, but if you go a lot, I would get either the pollo loco or the grilled shrimp. Most Mexican restaurants offer both of those. Refried beans are KILLER. They are authentically made with lard, which is very very very bad for you. It's a better bet to go with chicken or even the veggie fajitas at a Mexican restaurant. Typically, corn tortillas are a little better for you than flour, but the flour tortillas taste way better (at least to me).

Edit: I think it's called pollo loco. It could be called something else, but it's just a plain chicken breast with a side of rice and salad.

eHarris

I don't know about the refried beans...but you could probably get veggie fajitas or something of the sort. Also, I know it won't help you on your family Sunday deal but there are a few good mexican sub recipes on the "Recipe" forums.

hungrygirl.com also has some good sub ideas. I tired out (and posted the recipe) her suggestion for a taco bell sub and it was great. Not only did it taste like the real deal, but it was made with Boca Soy crumbles...so really no meat at all.

Over all though, I think you'll do decently as long as you stick to grilled foods and try to avoid the heavy creams and cheese. And maybe switch to black beans instead of refried ...they really aren't all that great for you from what I've read.

Phoenix_Rising

Based on the generic foods I entered into my diary (since I obviously can't pull the real counts from our local restaurant), I ate 923 calories for lunch. :sick: :embarassed: :frown: :ohwell: That did a number on my 1200 daily allotment, especially since I am not able to go to the gym on the weekends. Honestly, seeing that number made me a little sick to my stomach. Maybe that will help me learn to do something different with my food choices there.... or maybe I only go out with my family every other week. I dunno-- I hate to break up the family lunch every Sunday, but I'm trying to break away from the bat eating habits I've been raised with (that my family still abides by).

blondeheat

Try taco salad sans the tortilla shell with black beans, no guacamole or sour cream. Use tons of salsa for dressing (limited or no cheese).

age1389

veggie fajitas with corn wraps are your best best if you don't like meat.
I wouldn't not go it's only once a week. Think of it has your special day. Eating over your calories once a week is not gonna kill your lifestyle.
I would also look into othere mexican foods so you won't have to just stick with one option every sun. that way you'll know what you'll get before even getting into the restaurant.
Good luck and have fun... don't stress to much about it. Just make it work for you.

-Adrienne

Phoenix_Rising

veggie fajitas with corn wraps are your best best if you don't like meat.
I wouldn't not go it's only once a week. Think of it has your special day. Eating over your calories once a week is not gonna kill your lifestyle.
I would also look into othere mexican foods so you won't have to just stick with one option every sun. that way you'll know what you'll get before even getting into the restaurant.
Good luck and have fun... don't stress to much about it. Just make it work for you.

-Adrienne

Thanks for putting into perspective that it IS only ONE MEAL a week.

age1389

veggie fajitas with corn wraps are your best best if you don't like meat.
I wouldn't not go it's only once a week. Think of it has your special day. Eating over your calories once a week is not gonna kill your lifestyle.
I would also look into othere mexican foods so you won't have to just stick with one option every sun. that way you'll know what you'll get before even getting into the restaurant.
Good luck and have fun... don't stress to much about it. Just make it work for you.

-Adrienne

Thanks for putting into perspective that it IS only ONE MEAL a week.

:drinker: Glad I could help:flowerforyou:


-Adrienne

HappyathomeMN

I love mexican too. We have some really great authentic mexican places in town. my favorite thing to order is the Shrimp tostada, which is just shrimp, pico di gallo and a shell (i don't eat the shell). I will also eat the two slices of avacado with it.
Salsa isn't bad, just find something else to eat it on, celery, carrots, cauliflower, etc.
Check out the offerings that your place has for vegetable meals, veggie fajita's are great. Also see if they have a low fat option for the beans.