Any way to make Nachos healthier?

FollowthePorcupine

I been in the mood for Nachos lately but wanted to find out if you guys had any ideas of healthier alternatives? like healthier type of chips or something?

ellew70

You could make your own.. get corn tortillas, cut them into wedges, and spray with Pam and bake in the oven. Then maybe use some low fat velveeta (just a little) and some jalapenos?

cmriverside

Lots of veggies on them, chunky salsa, some guacamole, make your own refried beans without fat. I use uncooked corn tortillas in the oven too. Lowfat cheese and shred it yourself on the fine grate setting - it fluffs up the cheese and you can use lots less.

Oh, and use plain nonfat greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

sawadoll

What I did was make it with ground turkey rather than ground beef. Add in heaps of beans to add in protein and fiber. Use greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Reduce fat cheese. And we have these crackers where I am from which is made from 4 grains and is gluten free. That's what I ate today

caraiselite

put the cheese and toppings on lettuce instead of chips
use josephs pita or lavash bread

caraiselite

You could make your own.. get corn tortillas, cut them into wedges, and spray with Pam and bake in the oven. Then maybe use some low fat velveeta (just a little) and some jalapenos?

velveeta?! that **** is nasty! use fall fat real cheese, none of this processed crap!

KravMark

Just had some nachos at cheesecake factory tonight. Luckily I shared then And still only ate a 1/3 . Finding out that the whole plate was 1800 cal was a big craving deflater! Lol so I ingested about 500 cal worth;). Luckily I did a lot of running today

small_ninja

The chili itself is usually pretty low cal and healthy, especially if you bulk it up with beans. Add a bit of low fat sour cream or avocado/guacamole, and maybe 20g low fat cheese. Serve over baked corn tortilla chips. Sorted

Pebble321

Eat a smaller serve!

And, look at each component and change the ratios - more salsa or chilli (make your own so you know how much fat, sugar, salt is in it and add in lots of veg), less corn chips and cheese.

caraiselite

this is what i do.

shred my lettuce and throw it in a bowl, add some sour cream for 'dressing' and mix it all up. add tomatoes, black olives and salsa. throw on some cheese and taco meat. you can either make your own with cumin chili powder etc, or use the packet.
and viola. 'nachos' (basically taco salad), without the horrrible carbs from the chips.

i do the same thing with chicken fajita strips too.

sgv0918

gonna sound nuts but I took special k cracker chips cheddar flavor, topped it with a can of tuna that i had heated, a 1/4 c of taco cheese, and some salsa. I loved it

amjare09

Ah! I've been looking for healthier alternatives to nachos too because I've been craving them badly.

I'm going to use some of these ideas when I make some tomorrow.

AnneM69

Weirdly enough I just made something similar myself. Two corn thins, sardines in spicy tomato sauce, shredded cheese on the top, and microwaved enough to melt the cheese and heat the sardines.

virgocoley

I usually do a handful of tortilla chips, a couple of spoonfuls of low cal salsa and top with some half fat mozzarella

xxx

firetriniti

Awesome suggestions. Bump for later.

carebearhere

I use hard shell tacos broken in half and grilled, because I cannot justify consuming so many calories for a handful of corn chips

jlbay

Mmm...nachos.

When I want 'em - I don't want chip substitutes. So, I make them sort of like individual bites. Take about 5 tortilla chips, (pick the whole ones out of the bag) and toast them lightly in the oven - just barely some color. Then, stack them up with with your fresh, healthy ingredients/toppings (like you're making hors d'oeuvres) - maybe avocado, some crab or lean protein, fresh salsa, shredded romaine, Mexican cheese...whatever. I usually heat them again in the oven to melt the cheese, then add lettuces last. Plus, if they're hot, I eat them more slowly and enjoy 'em.

This way, I am far more likely to eat less chips and be satisfied than less than a suggested serving, but still get a chip fix. If I just pile some chips on a plate and start adding toppings...even if the toppings are healthy...I tend to OD on chips.

KarenK37

I made the buffalo chicken recipe listed in the recipeson this website, and topped some baked nachos with the chicken. I then put a low fat mexican blend cheese mix on top and baked. Yum, I found I love this chicken for salads and for nachos.

hauer01

I make my own nacho chips, it only takes a few minutes of work and they taste good!

1/4 cup of Whole grain Flour (about 140 cals, depending on the brand you use)
1/8 tsp of Baking powder (0 calories)
about 1 oz of water
Seasonings to taste (examples: add garlic, or tomato basil seasoning - whatever flavor you desire) (O calories and I buy the no sodium kind)

Mix in a bowl until it makes a dough ball (you have to tweek the water as you go) I just poor a little in mix, poor a little more in, mix, until I come out with a small ball of dough. I wrap this in a damp paper towel for about 15 minutes while I preheat the oven.

Spray down a cookie sheet with olive oil, take a rolling pin (or a glass cup if you don't have a rolling pin) and roll out the dough as thin as you possibly can, keep rolling til you can almost see through it. I score the dough with a knife or a pizza roller and I bake for about 8 minutes per side at 350 degrees. I eat them while they are warm. So Yummy

m0mofw4r

I use the same logic as jlbay and I make each one individually - even if I'm using regular chips (like tostitos scoops) I can still monitor how many calories I take in. My family is from New Mexico so I like to make up some red or green chile (100% chile, water, garlic and cumin) throw some pork in it and then sprink some low fat cheese. Mmmm...

Freyja2023

The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook has a good recipe for nachos:

1 ounce baked tortilla chips

1/4 cup drained canned 50% less-sodium black beans, heated

4 ounces grilled lean boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into small pieces

2 tablespoons salsa conqueso, all natural if possible (Salpica), heated

3 tablespoons finely chopped seeded tomato

2 tablespoons thinly sliced jalapeno pepper

Lay chips on a dinner plate, top then evenly with beans, and chicken. Drizzle the salsa con queso evenly over the top and then top with the tomato and jalapeno peppers.

makes one serving: 321 calories, 32 g protein, 36 g carbohydrates, 5 g fat (less the 1 g saturated), 65 mg cholesterol, 5 g fiber, 498 mg sodium.

Gidzmo

Lots of veggies on them, chunky salsa, some guacamole, make your own refried beans without fat. I use uncooked corn tortillas in the oven too. Lowfat cheese and shred it yourself on the fine grate setting - it fluffs up the cheese and you can use lots less.

Oh, and use plain nonfat greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

CM, what about the guacamole? How much (since this is vegetable fat, it's probably better than most)?

slsmoot123

bump

raeleek

I use La Favorita Chips, seasoned black beans, canned chilies, and sharp cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350 until cheese is melted.

Top with tons of onions, tomatoes, mixed greens, black olives

A tablespoon of sour cream and half an avocado on the side!

If you want add some seasoned chicken or turkey too!

EDIT - I forgot the salsa!!!!! Don't forget the salsa!

deb3129

I use corn tortillas,bake them til crispy and then top them with: black beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, and corn. Pretty low calorie and really good for you!! I don't put cheese on them because I am on a plant based diet,and I have discovered that it is really just not necessary!