How to Eat Mexican Food and Stay Thin

dendurgal
dendurgal Posts: 60
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I love mexican food!

I used to think I had to avoid mexican food because it was ”fattening,”  but after I started living the thin lifestyle, I found ways to eat mexican food and maintain a happy weight. Knowing what’s in mexican food is the trick; knowledge is power. Here are 5 ways to  enjoy mexican food — and not gain weight.  

1. Watch out for hidden fat: Flour tortillas, corn tortillas, corn chips, refried beans, all look innocent enough, but are made with lard or oil (eat sparingly). 

2. Beware the mexican food add-ons:  Sour cream, guacamole and cheese are all favorites, and all pack a wallop in the calorie area at about 100 calories a tablespoon. Skip them if you can, or have only a little.

3.  Make these choices: Fajitas (stir-fry chicken or beef and vegetables, and the rest of the ingredients you control the portions);  Cocida (Mexican beef soup, clear broth with tons of vegetables), Calabacita (squash casserole, plus other vegetables); grilled chicken salad (lettuce, onions, tomatoes, just a little shredded cheese, use salsa for dressing).

4. Steer clear of anything that looks like it’s been dropped in the grease: Chimichangas, flautas, rolled tacos, sopapillas, anything battered and fried.

5.  Eat lots of Salsa! Beautiful Salsa!  I think you could have as much salsa (chunky version is pico de gallo), and never gain weight because it is so low in calories and has zero fat.  So if you are going to add anything to your Mexican meal, add salsa!  Use it as a salad dressing substitute,  or as an addition to anything you are eating. It will never hurt you. 

Salsa will also clear up your sinuses, and some people claim salsa cures the common cold.  It may very well be the “perfect” food.  I am always looking for an excuse to eat salsa!

Just remember to tread lightly, eat everything in moderation, and most importantly — Enjoy!

Replies

  • misty0413
    misty0413 Posts: 212
    yeah I love mexican food too. I usually get chichen taco salad no cheese no sour cream. last time I got 1 taco and a tiny side guac. well it hold me until I get home for a snack. sometimes I do a frozen meal for mexican craving
  • ErinRibbens
    ErinRibbens Posts: 370 Member
    Yum! I love fajitas, usually eat one of the tortillas and then just eat the rest of the meat and veggies plain. the 3 tortillas they give you is a LOT of calories!
  • peachyxoxoxo
    peachyxoxoxo Posts: 1,178 Member
    Good tips. Salsa tends to be super high in sodium though, so do watch out for that.
  • Krystal7786
    Krystal7786 Posts: 103 Member
    How did u know i was craving mexican, I LOVE the rice though..thts hard to resist!!
  • noweightfisherj
    noweightfisherj Posts: 220 Member
    Thanks for the tips.
  • RuthSweetTooth
    RuthSweetTooth Posts: 461 Member
    Two more tips:

    Use yogurt in place of sour cream, saves many calories and gives that tang; Greek yogurt has the same consistency as sour cream.

    Marketside salsas from Walmart are low in sodium, if you don't have time to make your own !!!! They have several flavors and are found in their produce section.

    Corn tortillas are often only 50 calories; they're a great choice for carbs!!!!!

    ¡Viva la comida Mexicana - la comida verdadera de los Estados Unidos!!!!!!
  • RuthSweetTooth
    RuthSweetTooth Posts: 461 Member
    Ladies can limit rice to half a cup and still enjoy it.
  • Mrsfreedom41
    Mrsfreedom41 Posts: 330 Member
    I love mexican food too!! I usually order chicken fajitas and just eat the chicken and the veggies, leave the tortilla along. The rest is very filling for me so I don't miss the extra calories in the tortilla. Hmmm. maybe Mexican food tonight!!:drinker:
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    Good tips. Salsa tends to be super high in sodium though, so do watch out for that.

    If you are making it fresh, there is no such thing as super-high-in-sodium....
  • Uxorial
    Uxorial Posts: 38
    We make Mexican inspired food at least once a week. Usually it is a bowl of rice with corn, beans, peppers, texmex spice, lean ground beef. We add our own red or green salsa and hot sauce.

    Also good because those that aren't dieting in the house (my kid, for example) can add cheese, etc.
  • LauraThirty
    LauraThirty Posts: 74
    There's an excellent recipe book called "Appetite for reduction" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. It's all Vegan and truly delicious - most of her recipes are Mexican inspired, lots of beans/ bbq etc. I would definitely reccomend it for healthy mexican dins :) If you look on Amazon you can get some recipes for free on "look inside" ;)
  • awebster2
    awebster2 Posts: 40 Member
    I've found that a few saltine crackers and the Laughing Cow Queso Fresco and Chipotle cheese really helps when I've got a craving for chips and queso! I can get away with a hundred calorie snack (depending upon your crackers)
  • peachyxoxoxo
    peachyxoxoxo Posts: 1,178 Member
    Good tips. Salsa tends to be super high in sodium though, so do watch out for that.

    If you are making it fresh, there is no such thing as super-high-in-sodium....

    Right, but these sounded more like tips for eating Mexican out at a restaurant so I just wanted to throw that out.
  • kimmymayhall
    kimmymayhall Posts: 419 Member
    Not trying to preach from an "authentic" soapbox, but real Mexican food is much healthier than the Americanized Mexican food that we loaded down with cheese and grease a la Tex-Mex (I am from Texas, I know it well :wink: ) I'd suggest checking out some authentic Mexican cookbooks to find healthier recipes full of fresh veggies, beans, and leaner meats. As mentioned above, plain yogurt in place of sour cream and fresh salsa are great tips. And I really like queso fresco crumbled on tacos and salads which has less than half the fat and calories of monterey and Mexican cheese blends. I also make some killer lentil tacos, that even big meat-eaters love.
  • Aequitas503
    Aequitas503 Posts: 62
    A mexican place here in Australia, Mad Mex, does a 'naked burrito'. Essentially it's all the burrito ingredients (rice, lettuce, salsa, meat etc) in a box rather than a wrap.

    It's pretty good calorie-wise (if you avoid the beans and cheese). You can get one with rice, lettuce, beef, sour cream and salsa for 230 calories and it's super filling.
  • joolsweb
    joolsweb Posts: 81 Member
    bump, as holding first Mexican inspired lunch party in 2 weeks, any ideas for recipes much appreciated, but am in UK so may need some ingredients explaining. thanks :happy:
  • tootoop224
    tootoop224 Posts: 281 Member
    Good tips. Thanks!
  • esballet
    esballet Posts: 51 Member
    There is a really excellent cookbook out there called "Fresh Mexican." The recipes are much more authentic than what you would find in an Americanized restaurant, and it's sooooo good. Also, corn tortillas (not the crispy fried ones, of course) are much lower in calories than flour and are whole grain!
  • GnomeLove
    GnomeLove Posts: 379
    I really don't see the point of eating Mexican food if there is no cheese or sour cream.
  • KAS0917
    KAS0917 Posts: 172 Member
    The cafe in our office does Mexican food every Friday. You can get a burrito, nachos or taco salad. A lot of times I get the salad with no bowl, but sometimes I don't WANT a salad (picture pouty face). So now sometimes I order 'nachos' but ask them to put in the toppings, and just put 6 chips on top. I trick myself into thinking I'm eating nachos, when in reality it's just a taco salad, but I get the satisfaction of those 6 chips. :)
  • SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants
    SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants Posts: 474 Member
    If cooking at home use vegetarian re-fried beans- NO LARD :)
  • nonoark
    nonoark Posts: 153 Member
    Bump for later! Thanks! I have actually started to work in keeping the wonderful taste in my home by cooking it here and keeping a close eye on what I make. I am not loosing the flavor but doing a great job staying in line.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    I really don't see the point of eating Mexican food if there is no cheese or sour cream.

    Agree!
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    I would rather have lard than vegetable oil. It's half monounsaturated fat.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,054 Member
    I really don't see the point of eating Mexican food if there is no cheese or sour cream.
    THIS. I think that any cultural food should be eaten the way it's meant to be. Just don't eat too much of it. Weight issues come from over consumption and not just from ingredients.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • healthygreek
    healthygreek Posts: 2,137 Member
    Guacamole is something I will never do without!
This discussion has been closed.

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