Advice for eating out at a Mexican Restaurant.

wvtalbot
wvtalbot Posts: 1
in Health and Weight Loss
So my job has this habit of every time someone has a birthday they go as a group to the same Mexican restaurant.

(Company of about 50 employees so this happens often).

A lot of the time lately I just don't go because there seems to be so few healthy choices on the menu. Umlimited Chips and salsa, and everything is smothered in cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.

Anyway next week it's the boss's birthday and I can't really duck out of this one. Any advice? Anywhere I can find general caloric guidelines for Mexican foods?
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Replies

  • 5stringjeff
    5stringjeff Posts: 790 Member
    Lots of "generic" Mexican foods are in the database. I love Mexican, and I've had similar problems. I order a small lunch - usually one taco, one enchilada, and a serving of rice. Along with a decent serving of chips/salsa, it's around 1000 calories. That's a lot, but it's not overboard for most people. I compensate by having a smaller dinner.
  • marshmallow8978
    marshmallow8978 Posts: 57 Member
    Fajitas are a good choice, you can make them how you want them. You can even just skip the tortillas all together if you want, or do corn ones if available. I would just add each item separately in the food guide, or if you search for whatever item you eat there is probably a few equivalent choices from chains, that will give you a good estimate.
    Mexican food is my downfall though, I love it, and often do like you and just skip it altogether, I cannot resist chips and salsa!
  • dcglobalgirl
    dcglobalgirl Posts: 207 Member
    Here are some tips I can think of:

    1. no margaritas - full of sugar and you'll be more likely to cheat on everything else

    2. chips - take 4 and put them on your plate but don't eat them until all the others are gone. Make sure you count how many chips you have. Only salsa, no guacamole.

    3. Sometimes they have fish Veracruz style. Basically this is just fish in tomato sauce, so not as bad for you. Make sure you ask for it without refried beans and rice, just more veggies.
  • favhrnstr
    favhrnstr Posts: 55
    Fajitas are a good choice, you can make them how you want them. You can even just skip the tortillas all together if you want, or do corn ones if available. I would just add each item separately in the food guide, or if you search for whatever item you eat there is probably a few equivalent choices from chains, that will give you a good estimate.
    Mexican food is my downfall though, I love it, and often do like you and just skip it altogether, I cannot resist chips and salsa!

    This^^^

    We love Mexican food, and fajitas (minus the tortilla) is often a great option, but most menus have lots of healthy options. Stick with mostly meat and veggies; limit tortillas, cheese, rice, and beans (a little of each won't kill you); eat way more salsa than chips; and you'll be fine!
  • Annieapple12
    Annieapple12 Posts: 122 Member
    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.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Guacamole is *very* healthy. Eat it without guilt. So is salsa! Skip the rice and the chips and the refried beans.
  • msrootitooti
    msrootitooti Posts: 253 Member
    I usually order fish tacos because usually they are grilled with cabbage slaw and on corn tortillas. But, fajitas would probably be your best bet.
  • cbrrabbit25
    cbrrabbit25 Posts: 384 Member
    i hate to eat mexican because of the salt. but i would go for a taco salad with lots of meat and no chips!
  • itsmyvwbeetle
    itsmyvwbeetle Posts: 272 Member
    I agree, count your chips and log them appropriately. I always look up and know how many chips I can have before I walk in. Stay away from rice and beans if you can. I have a burrito enchilada style with no rice or beans. It has some cheese and beans inside. I just log it and go on with life. It all comes together about 630 calories (with the chips) but if I keep the rest of the day in check its really not a big deal.
  • RunsOnEspresso
    RunsOnEspresso Posts: 3,218 Member
    I always get guac at Mexican restaurants. It's basically avocado and some seasoning, maybe some salsa or onions. Yes, it is higher calorie than salsa but it's healthy fat.

    I love a good carne asada. Most places you can order that, just a slab of meat. Very tasty meat at that.

    Look through the database and the menu ahead of time. I am sure you can find something that is close. Or even see if someone has added it to the database, google to see if you can get a rough estimate.

    Go and enjoy! And I can tell you I eat at Mexican restaurant's/food more than 50 times per year and I somehow still manage to lose weight. If allowed, I would eat it all the time. The boyfriend doesn't let me though. :tongue:

    ETA: Oh and if they have black beans, get those over refried. Not all beans are created equal. :wink:
  • mikeyboy
    mikeyboy Posts: 1,057 Member
    As you have read there are some good choices. One trick I use is as soon as my food come I ask for a take-out box and put half or more in the box before I start.
  • mdcoug
    mdcoug Posts: 397 Member
    I love chicken tortilla soup. Just ask for all the toppings on the side and if they have low-fat sour cream. That plus a salad with a low fat dressing on the side are usually plenty for me.
  • Djbass728
    Djbass728 Posts: 71 Member
    I always get a salad with the following and it is AWESOME!!!

    Iceburg lettuce
    shredded mex cheese
    pico di gallo (that's my "dressing")
    avacado slices
    sauteed shrimp (six)

    Donna
  • zombie_porno
    zombie_porno Posts: 199 Member
    On the issue of guac... yes, it has lots of healthy fats in it... it's still a high calorie food, so I keep it VERY limited. Healthy high calories are still high calories. Salsa is a dream because you can have a ton of it without guilt. Even better is if you can get pico because it's usually fresher.
  • kingkoopaluv
    kingkoopaluv Posts: 147 Member
    tostada, no sour cream no cheese. extra veggies. Don't eat shell. salsa and guac in moderation. Dont deprive yourself just know youre allowed to make substitutions at restaurants.
  • DebraYvonne
    DebraYvonne Posts: 632 Member
    I had a naked fajita (no tortilla) last time I went but I confess I did have cheese dip because I love it!
  • crystalflame
    crystalflame Posts: 1,049 Member
    5 chips, and spoonful of guacamole, and salsa to start. Fajitas for your main course, but try to avoid the sour cream and maybe limit yourself to one tortilla - tortillas can be 150-200 calories each in a restaurant. Grilled fish, shrimp, chicken, etc. are usually good options as well, just watch how much you eat of the rice and beans that come with it.
  • Alford96
    Alford96 Posts: 70
    vegetable fajitas are good. I also like the tortilla soup our local place has (basically it's chicken veg soup with LOTS of big chunks of veg). You might want to go online and see if the menu is available so you can peruse it at your leisure. I LOVE mexican food so I have trouble with this one too. Also, remember at most places you can order "A La Carte" so you can just order 1 taco/burrito/enchillada, whatever. Good luck!!
  • UsaJewels05
    UsaJewels05 Posts: 229 Member
    I love Mexican! We eat it about once a week at my office. My favorite Mexican Restaurant is right next door! I have been getting either a lunch combo that has 2 soft Tacos with whole wheat tortilla (Chicken, Salsa, Lettuce and Cheese) with a side salad instead of rice and beans with their house dressing which is lite ranch and salsa mixed! or I get a house side salad with 1 taco, depending on how hungry I am that day. You can also normally get soup and salad (Tortilla soup or Black Bean soup should not be that bad). Just try to avoid the chips as much as possible, they are addictive and can add up in calories quick!
  • mapnerd2005
    mapnerd2005 Posts: 363
    I like to get fajita nachos made with chicken. Skip the beans because they will use the full fat ones. Most places where I'm from put the nachos on tostada shells instead of chips, so it is easy to count how many you eat. You can ask them to go easy on the cheese, too. Often a friend and I will split an order because there is plenty for 2 people. I like guacamole, and the stuff served is USUALLY the real thing, which is made with real avocados,, but what how much you eat....just because it's a good fat doesn't mean it has fewer calories. Skip the chips. Fajitas are also good, but flour tortillas are high calorie carb bombs.
  • trexmsuee
    trexmsuee Posts: 7 Member
    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,
  • sugboog29
    sugboog29 Posts: 630 Member
    I order my chicken fajita's made with no oil, extra veggies, and no tortillas. I usually ask for extra pico de gallo too!
  • staceyseeger
    staceyseeger Posts: 778 Member
    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:
  • Jizes318
    Jizes318 Posts: 409 Member
    Usually Mexican restaurants have Chicken Lettuce wraps... see if yours does!!
  • noiva
    noiva Posts: 94
    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!
  • fihealth
    fihealth Posts: 165 Member
    rice -- mix in salsa, and if you feel like splurging, a little guac. call ahead and ask if they can steam some veg or have plain boiled beans to incorporate into your rice. many places accommodate, and talking to them beforehand saves you having to try and figure it all out during the birthday celebrations at the restaurant! :)
  • candy102389
    candy102389 Posts: 68
    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)
  • Muffiewilmes
    Muffiewilmes Posts: 36 Member
    :drinker: I just did this last night and would have done fine if I didn't get into the margaritas. :drinker: I do better not starting on the chips. Eat a banana on the the way over so you are not starving when you get there. I had some shrimp tacos made that were the bomb!!! A few grilled shrimp, lettuce, and pico. Then added a small amout of gauc. Very tasty!!! It was a higher calorie meal than I usually do but tried to compensate with lighter snacks and meals yesterday. I was able to ball park the tacos at 330 a piece.
  • darkguardian419
    darkguardian419 Posts: 1,302 Member
    Don't get caught. Public indecency is a big fine.
  • sandy0424
    sandy0424 Posts: 2
    I know this is about eating OUT at a Mexican Restaurant, but i just have to share a low cal guac recipe i just saw on food network.com.......hope you all enjoy!

    Ingredients

    1 (15-ounce) can early or young peas, drained
    1/2 cup mashed avocado (about 1 medium avocado's worth)
    1/4 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
    4 teaspoons lime juice
    1/2 teaspoon minced garlic (about 1/2 clove)
    1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more, optional
    1/8 teaspoon black pepper, plus more, optional
    1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
    1/8 teaspoon chile powder
    1/3 cup chopped cherry or grape tomatoes
    1/4 cup finely chopped onion
    Chopped fresh cilantro, optional
    Chopped jarred jalapenos, optional
    Serving suggestion: cut veggies

    Directions

    Place peas in a medium bowl and mash thoroughly with a potato masher or fork. (Or puree peas in a small blender or food processor and transfer to a medium bowl.) Add avocado, yogurt, lime juice, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 black pepper, cumin, and chile powder. Continue to mash until blended.

    Stir in tomatoes, onion, and some cilantro and/or jalapenos, if using. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired. Enjoy!

    Per serving (1/3 cup): Calories 83; Total Fat 3.5 grams; Saturated Fat 0.5 grams; Protein 3 grams; Total Carbohydrate 9 grams; Sugar: 4 grams; Fiber 4 grams; Cholesterol 0 miilligrams; Sodium 308 milligrams;

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