Advice for eating out at a Mexican Restaurant.
Replies
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1) Order food
2) Eat food
Stop acting like one meal is going to make you "fat." Friday 1/4/13 I had dinner at BD Mongolias. I had a giant 20+ ounce beer, 4 plates of stir-fry with meats, veggies and sauces, a glass of sangria, and wrapped it up with deep-fried Oreos with chocolate drizzle and ice cream. I was 201 that morning, and 205 the next morning. I laughed about it. Yesterday (do the math - 4 days later) I was 199.
Why do we say that weight loss is a "LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT"? Because the events of ONE DAY have VERY LITTLE influence.
Go have a nice dinner out. Quit making mountains out of a bowl of nachos.0 -
There's an authentic Mexican restaurant across the street from my workplace, so I can definitely relate!
My advice:
Don't order a jumbo margarita just because everyone else did
Pass on the free chips and salsa
Order your entree without sour cream
9 times out of 10, I order chicken fajitas and just eat the meat and vegetables.0 -
I just don't go out to eat but on a "free day".
Some of us are just WEAK!
If we're at a nice restaurant, I want something fabulous.
And I'll walk 5 miles afterward listening to music to offset some of it.
For what this is worth, that is my suggestion.
ENJOY!0 -
Hi - we eat Mexican at least once a week. I have learned to bypass all of the chips, and my restaurant fixes a grilled chicken platter (about 8-10 oz) with grilled vegetables (about 2 cups) (basically a deconstructed fajita). Salsa is a great low-cal dressing.
However, I always "misc-add" about 200 calories to account for the cooking methods - not sure what oil they use and how much. In other words, there are certainly more calories in this meal than the bare ingredients suggest.
I'm not sure I concur with the "go for the guacamole" sentiment. It is very high in calories and fat, and I would reserve that for a "special" occasion.
Also, about 1/2 -1 cup of Mexican rice should be about 200 - 400 calories --- not to bad if you can't resist.
Good luck,
A birthday party *is* a special occasion. Derp.0 -
Living here in New Mexico and having such restaraunts on just about every corner I can attest to the difficulty here...actually, it's a bit worse because I'm actually dealing with authentic New Mexican cuisine which is even worse than authentic Mexican. Actually, authentic Mexican can be rather healthy and nutritious...it's mostly the Americanized versions of Mexican that make it so high calorie and high fat. Here's what I do...because I have to have my fix every couple of weeks...couldn't ever give it up, especially living where I am:
1.) Take it easy on the chips and salsa...just because they're unlimited doesn't mean you have to eat a whole basket of chips and a jar of salsa. I usually get a small plate or I use my napkin and give myself a serving and that's all I get...no reaching for the basket.
2.) Ask for a to go box from the get go and put half of your food in it...the remainder on your plate is lunch/dinner...whatever
3.) Look for menu options that aren't smothered in sauce and cheese (or get those items on the side). Fajitas are my go to here. Also, inquire as to what they use when making tortillas...a lot of NM restaurants here make their own tortillas and being authentic, they use straight up lard. Skip the desert sopapillas.
Doing the above, I can generally cut a 1,000-1,200 calorie meal by half and I'm not overly stuffed, which always makes me feel disgusting and tired on top of it. Every once in awhile I like to really go to town at my favorite NM restaurant, but I pretty much plan my day around it...usually means very light (and clean) meals the rest of the day and I forgo my usual snacks (which are generally very healthy, but just no room for the calories).0 -
2 chicken enchiladas and a few chips with salsa. done! lol now I want mexican! lol0
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One lunch out every now and then won't harm you. If you typically bow out of them enjoy this one. Easy Peasy.0
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Do the best you can, make the best choices possible, log the best you can, then relax, it's one meal of one day. Enjoy, I love mexican!:drinker:0
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La Senorita has nutritional information on their website.0
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I have to agree with those who'll just eat whatever they feel like. I don't often get to have Mexican food and I don't like the idea of ordering something I'm not going to like as much as what I really want just because it's lower in calories.
If you must order something smaller/lower in calories, some places actually have their low calorie menus. Fish is always a good bet. Avoid toppings like guac and sour cream. Limit the amount of chips and salsa you have (unless that ends up being your meal). Maybe go for one of the soups?0 -
Guacamole is *very* healthy. Eat it without guilt. So is salsa! Skip the rice and the chips and the refried beans.
I'm always wary of restaurant guac. Common recipes add sour cream & other junk so it's not as good for you.
My rule of thumb, if it looks like a true green of an avocado, eat it. If it looks like it's whiter/added in sour cream, don't eat it. Or you could ask the waitress. I guess that's easier :P0 -
...........Why do we say that weight loss is a "LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT"? Because the events of ONE DAY have VERY LITTLE influence.
Go have a nice dinner out. Quit making mountains out of a bowl of nachos.
I like that!0 -
I love Mexican food, we go out to eat at the same one every Friday or Saturday night. I just eat half of whatever I want, then take home the rest for a leftover lunch or dinner. I also just have a few chips and Salsa or cheese dip, which salsa is generally pretty low in Calories anyway. Moderation is key. Also having a water keeps the caloric intake low.0
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...I order a shrimp taco (corn tortilla), lots of lettus, hold the cheese, and no spices...I'm on a low oxalate diet so no beans....but can have rice. To mix it up...sometimes I get steak with a verida sauce, rice, and again corn torillas only. I usually ask for a to-go box and put half the meal in there first as the serving sizes are so large! I keep it to 350 calories...0
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Try a tostada of chicken. it is a tortilla chip and it has black beans, chicken breast, lettuce, cheese and avocado. They are good. i make them at home and when I add the calories of all teh items Its not so high at all. Try it.0
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Skip the beans and rice. Skip the chips. Don't order something smothered in cheese or sour cream. That's where the fats and calories come in. Exercise a little more to make up for what you do eat.
Or, eat it all and just enjoy yourself one meal and be good the next. To paraphrase Nora Ephron...if I get hit by a bus tomorrow, I don't want my last thought to be "I wish I'd eaten that Taco!"0 -
If you are looking for healthy options, stay away from the alcohol, unless you love it like me. Then just limit it to 1. As far as entrees, fajitas that you make yourself would be good, but I always go for the fish tacos, which are usually grilled, with sauce on the side. I usually just end up using lime juice anyways instead of whatever mayo/sour cream that they offer. And stay away from the chips if you have the will power. I do not lol.
And most of all, enjoy it!! One day is not going to kill you if you go over calories so don't stress. Just do an extra work out, or tighten up your calories later in the week.0 -
Order chicken fajitas and skip the tortillas.
Ask for black beans on the side if they have them (some do not)
If you want a margarita...go for a frozen one; these are way lower in calories b/c they're mostly ice, but you can still "have"
Do NOT have a mojito; they're very laden with sugar
If the restaurant has a website...look at the menu online and try to find the lowest fat, cal, full of veg food you can.0 -
don'y, LMOA. Sorry had to.
Mexican is hard to do low cal. Just don';t eat as much and make sure you workout.0 -
When I need to be good I get a taco salad. No sour cream! Extra veggies!0
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Fish tacos if they aren't fried and on corn tortillas! Delicious!0
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Salsa has very few calories - it's my favorite junk food. 22 taco chips is something like 150 calories, so that's definitely doable.
Almost all Mexican restaurants have a big salad served in a fried taco shell bowl. Ask them to put the dressing on the side and don't eat the bowl.
Drink water, tea, or coffee for no calories from drinks.
Order a chicken burrito and only eat half - take the rest home for a buddy or eat it for dinner. Tell them to put all the toppings on the side. They will. You're not the only one counting calories. If you are feeling really spartan, open it up and live the tortilla and just eat the inside.
A small bowl of chile won't kill you either. Again, tell them no cheese or sour cream.
Have fun! I love Mexican food.0 -
I don't eat the chips. At all. But if you love the chips and feel they are worth the calories, then count out a few and stick to that serving. I almost always order fajitas, but I only eat the meat/grilled veggie part. I skip the tortillas and plate that comes with the cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.0
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I LOVE Mexican food. Personally I would have a buritto smothered in cheese and sour cream. I would log the calories honestly and would head to the swimming pool and swim for 2 hours / do a water aerobic class until I had burnt the calories.
I'm right there with ya, but I don't really swim well, so I'd do a different workout and just build it in to my day. You can also skip the massive amounts of cheese and sour cream...0 -
I often order a grilled chicken tostada minus the hard shell and substitute black beans for refried beans so it's lettuce on the bottom with everything else on top - I eat the sour cream/guac sparingly. Another trick is to order two soft tacos (grilled chicken or fish are better choices), and instead of the rice and beans on the side, ask to substitute salad or steamed veggies. For me, I try to avoid the chips altogether because once I get started, I find it hard to stop. Good luck!0
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Don't go to far from a bathroom.0
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I work for a Mexican restaurant! The first thing my diet doctor says was "No more work food!". I do find it difficult to pass it up, but we have a grilled chicken salad, and the fajitas are a great idea!! But I do stay away from the Margaritas (although ours are the best in town!). When I got to my 50 lbs lost, I celebrated with a cheese enchilada! Gotta treat yourself sometime!!0
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LOTS of good advice so far that I won't repeat. The only thing I haven't noticed so far is PLENTY OF WATER! At previous job, we went to local Mexican restaurant so often they knew our orders by heart (impressive considering their capacity of ~80 people and were often full during lunch). I'd start with 2 glasses of water, the 2nd with no ice to refill the first. I'd glug the ice water BEFORE eating chips and finish the 'refill' while eating some chips. Once the main course arrived, I'd put half in a to-go box and they'd refill both glasses. These were tall glasses so I estimate that I drank ~48-64oz during lunch. Kept me away from chips refill and ordering dessert!0
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Carne asada is wonderful (I don't even use the tortillas!!) as are fajitas. They have wonderful soups, too
Unfortunately, chips and salsa get me. 0 -
Check the menu ahead of time, my "go to" items are the fajitas (no tortilla- mainly because I'm gluten free and many places don't offer soft corn tortillas) or I go to the a la carte menu and order two items off this menu, usually a taco and an enchilada. I'll sit at the very end of the table (since they tend to put the baskets of chips towards the middle) so I can stay away or take a couple to munch on then pass the basket back out of my reach0
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