Advice for eating out at a Mexican Restaurant.

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,

We can't go too many days without Mexican food down here in South Texas...when I'm being good, I have 2 chicken fajitas tacos on corn with guacamole & picode gallo. :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: When I'm going to be bad, the options are endless! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Some Mexican restaurants can do vegetable fajitas as well. I'll usually do one "taco" with the filling and then give the other tortillas to whoever I am with. Taco salads are good, too, and you can use salsa as your dressing.

I also always figure out how many chips I can have before I leave for the restaurant. Then I count those out and don't eat any more. Sit by some good friends who know you're eating healthy and ask them to move the basket away from you!

If they offer pozole I would get that. Its like a stew very yummy and satisfying with one bowl. If they offer veggies in it I would ask for morextra veggies hold on the "maiz"(corn)

Don't get caught. Public indecency is a big fine.

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.

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!

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).

One lunch out every now and then won't harm you. If you typically bow out of them enjoy this one. Easy Peasy.

La Senorita has nutritional information on their website.