Going out for Mexican..Healthy Options?

JessieNeutronGirlGenius
JessieNeutronGirlGenius Posts: 268
in Food and Nutrition
I'm going out for Mexican tonight AND I LOVE IT!

What is a healthy option or meal combo I could get...?
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Replies

  • MariarR33
    MariarR33 Posts: 69
    Fajitas, just use the veggies, some cheese and hold the sour cream. Stick with salsa instead. See if you can have celery sticks instead of the chips.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    Sub black beans for refried beans. Don't eat the chips. Get the sour cream on the side or leave it off entirely. No rice or tortillas.

    I like the taco salad/chicken or chicken tostada with avocado, no refried beans (the beans are cooked with fat.) You could get fajitas if they will make them without butter. Then don't eat the tortillas.

    Try to use salsa and pico de gallo for your flavoring, not sour cream or excessive cheese.

    In general Mexican can be good, they use a lot of vegetables.
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,446 Member
    1. Ceviche (basically a marinated shrimp or fish dish. Typically fish/shrimp/other seafood marinated in lime juice (or another citrus) with maybe tomatoes, cilantro, sometimes avocado, and other fruits and veggies. Sometimes they serve it with a couple of chips. And I do mean a couple

    2. Mexican style soft tacos (not american style). The real deal ones come on a corn tortilla with meat, beans (optional), salsa, onions and cilantro. Super healthy, no matter what meat you pick (unless of course it is fried). You can even get carnitas, and the are around 200 calories a taco without beans. More like 300 a taco with beans.
  • sarri44
    sarri44 Posts: 8 Member
    One of my favorite things to get at a local Mexican place near me is a corn tostada with shrimp, avocado, tomato and cilantro with lime. It's like an open face taco shell...and I get a side of black beans. Hardest thing for me to stay away from is the chips and salsa!!!! I'll have a few, but it's hard not to munch and munch...oh and a big, giant margarita is hard to resist, too!
  • mmsilvia
    mmsilvia Posts: 459 Member
    I am going to a mexican restaurant this weekend and am trying to plan ahead. My plan is to avoid the chips and salsa. I can't just have one and would prefer to use my calories more wisely. I am going to go for a nice long run in the morning to burn a few extra claories and load up on fruit & veggies during the day. I haven't decided what I will be ordering but, I spilt an a dinner (take half home for the next day) or order an app. And, most importantly I will be odering a margarita :drinker:

    P.S.
    Order the extras on the side. Cheese, sour cream, etc...this way you can control how much you eat. Also, avoid anything deep fried.
  • cavewoman15
    cavewoman15 Posts: 278 Member
    i can usually share a dish with my partner and we are both stupid full after. like the others said black beans are way better than refried and skip the rice if you can (i never miss it). some dishes come with gaucamole salad instead of rice and beans, and those are good options. i usually have some chips and salsa (how can you not?) and opt for a beer over a margarita. good luck!

    ceviche is a great option depending on how close to the coast you live.
  • dmpizza
    dmpizza Posts: 3,321 Member
    Chicken fajitas without cheese or guac.
  • 19kat55
    19kat55 Posts: 336 Member
    Fajitas and just eat what is in the skillet, not the sides (meat, onions, peppers, salsa etc., no sour cream, cheese, refried beans). I do it all the time and it is not that unhealthy! Stay away from the chips unless you can control amount.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    I get tacos mar and skip the flour tortillas so I can have a few chips with salsa. I also limit the rice and beans but I don't care for them much anyway.

    Try any shrimp/chicken stir fried for taco filling and just eat the meat and veggies. Lots of flavor, fewer cals.
  • JennaM222
    JennaM222 Posts: 1,996 Member
    yup fajitas no tortilla, have the veggies, chicken, and guac oe SC. limit 1-10 chips. you will be okay :) LOTS of water :)
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    If they have something called "molcajete", get it. They can usually feed 2-3 people.

    It's a lava rock mortar filled with all kinds of goodies. Common components: carne asada, grilled shrimp, grilled chicken, some tasty fresh cheese, big Mexican green onions, cactus leaves, avacado, chorizo.

    Remember: molcajete. Pronounced mole-caw-heh-teh.

    Better yet -- jot it down. Don't worry about pronunciation. Just show it to the waiter.

    IMG_0877.JPG
  • michelleepotter
    michelleepotter Posts: 800 Member
    Basically what everyone else said. Choose corn tortillas (or none). Choose black beans over refried. Avoid or limit chips, sour cream and cheese. Guacamole is good for you, but high in calories. Avoid anything deep fried.
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    Try to use salsa and pico de gallo for your flavoring, not sour cream or excessive cheese.
    If it's slathered in sour cream or yellow cheese, you're eating "mexican food". Find a place that serves real Mexican food.
  • jennb44
    jennb44 Posts: 81 Member
    Oh, I love Mexican...I usually go for a fish taco or a fajita with just veggies. I skip the sour cream, beans and rice, just use salsa or alittle guca. The chips on the table are deadly, but if you can limit yourselves and they are homemade then it is so worth it.
  • KrystieNye
    KrystieNye Posts: 123 Member
    Fajitas (especially chicken..mmm). That way, everything comes on the side and you can control what you eat. I will normally skip the tortillas, and just eat what's in the skillet along with a few of the cold veggies (tomatoes and lettuce) and some salsa. Yum! Plus, there is always enough so that you can take 1/2 home for another meal!
  • shydaisi
    shydaisi Posts: 788 Member
    I like sopa de pollo, or chicken soup.
  • Sabresgal63
    Sabresgal63 Posts: 641 Member
    Taco salad without the shell and minimize the cheese and sour cream......................mmmmmmm I add a touch of sour cream and lots of salsa and its creamy good.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    GMF, I wanna go to your Mex restaurant. Yum, that looks awesome.
  • foot2wood
    foot2wood Posts: 149 Member
    If they have something called "molcajete", get it. They can usually feed 2-3 people.

    It's a lava rock mortar filled with all kinds of goodies. Common components: carne asada, grilled shrimp, grilled chicken, some tasty fresh cheese, big Mexican green onions, cactus leaves, avacado, chorizo.

    Remember: molcajete. Pronounced mole-caw-heh-teh.

    Better yet -- jot it down. Don't worry about pronunciation. Just show it to the waiter.

    IMG_0877.JPG
    looks and sounds amazing sans chorizo
  • stopdangerpi
    stopdangerpi Posts: 34
    Ceviche is so great. It is pretty healthy and packed with protein. Mhmmm...

    Also, instead of a margarita, why not get a gin, vodka or tequila gimlet. it's just the booze, lime juice and soda water. Still yummy lime flavor without all the sugar!
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    Fajitas, just use the veggies, some cheese and hold the sour cream. Stick with salsa instead. See if you can have celery sticks instead of the chips.
    YES..this!
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    GMF, I wanna go to your Mex restaurant. Yum, that looks awesome.
    Eat where the Mexicans eat. :drinker:
  • wurgin
    wurgin Posts: 241 Member
    gazpacho
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    Skip whatever you can and still feel satisfied.

    But otherwise order whatever you want and ask them to bring you a to container with your meal. Pack half your food away.

    This is what I do in restaurants where I especially like the food. I wouldn't feel satisfied going to a Mexican place without having rice or refried beans, or sour cream, or guacamole. So I have it all -- just in a reasonable portion.
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    i usually pop for the fish tacos (provided they arent fried).
    usually comes with a nice spicy chimichuri sauce and some sort of fruit salsa (mango).

    fish doesnt go well with cheese and sour cream and all that **** as far as im concerned, so i dont have a hard time avoiding it.

    delicious, fair portion, and not all that bad for you.
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    If they have something called "molcajete", get it. They can usually feed 2-3 people.

    It's a lava rock mortar filled with all kinds of goodies. Common components: carne asada, grilled shrimp, grilled chicken, some tasty fresh cheese, big Mexican green onions, cactus leaves, avacado, chorizo.

    Remember: molcajete. Pronounced mole-caw-heh-teh.

    Better yet -- jot it down. Don't worry about pronunciation. Just show it to the waiter.

    IMG_0877.JPG
    looks and sounds amazing sans chorizo
    It would probably remain pretty tasty sans the chorizo, but chorizo is like bacon -- it provides that extra bit of tastiness.
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    gazpacho
    Great choice if you go to a Spanish restaurant.

    At a Mexican joint, however, you could get a "coctel de camaron" -- Mexican version of shrimp cocktail. Shrimp swimming in a cold tomato-citrus juice blend with diced cucumber, onion, cilantro and avocado. Damn tasty.
  • bitterbrownie
    bitterbrownie Posts: 369
    the mexicans i go to, using their calorie counters, burritos are fine - chicken is best and rice OR beans, or neither, lots of veg and salad, no cheese or cream and just some mild salsa and chillis if you like it spicy :)

    enjoy!
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member
    I eat mexican once a week probably. everything is fine in moderation.

    what I usually do is make sure I go on a run day or one that I've had a big calorie burn on and eat light all day before.

    that way I can get my tacos and rice and chips and not feel guilty bc it fits into my day.
  • 1_Slick_Chick
    1_Slick_Chick Posts: 199 Member
    How about Soup as an option? Caldo de Pollo (chicken soup) or Albondigas (meatball soup) sans the tortillas. I usually get one of these squeeze lots of lime and hot sauce and don't eat the tortillas or rice that usually come with it. Yummy!!!

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