HEALTHIER MEXICAN FOOD OPTIONS?

jmacfan98
jmacfan98 Posts: 6
in Food and Nutrition
Going to a Mexican restaurant (Hacienda) and I need to know some
healthier Mexican options that taste great too.. any advice?
«1

Replies

  • krisrpaz
    krisrpaz Posts: 263 Member
    Fajitas with corn tortillas.
  • kellybean14
    kellybean14 Posts: 237 Member
    Ceviche is a great call! Just try to not eat too many chips with them. Personally, I'll just eat the stuff with a spoon and skip the chips all together.
  • CollisionofNova
    CollisionofNova Posts: 98
    If they have some sort of salad, I generally go for that. Taco salads or fajita salads are my favorite salad out there, actually.
  • cgrigz
    cgrigz Posts: 86 Member
    Chips, Salsa and Pacifico!!! no other way!
  • cheesy_blasters
    cheesy_blasters Posts: 283 Member
    The mexican place here does 'make your own' fajitas and tacos. You could go with any option that let's you control how much you put in it (more veggies, less sour cream).
  • wilmnoca
    wilmnoca Posts: 416 Member
    grilled chicken breast or grilled shrimp taco salad with salsa as a dressing, hold the cheese, guacamole, and sour cream
  • dr_tina
    dr_tina Posts: 225 Member
    chicken tortilla soup is usually pretty low
  • colortheplanet
    colortheplanet Posts: 13
    Vegan options would be the best idea I think, or if you're totally opposed to not eating meat, just cut out the dairy. Mexican places load things with cheese, often adding 300+ calories in dairy and numerous amount of fat.
  • MsMargie1116
    MsMargie1116 Posts: 323 Member
    Fajitas with corn tortillas.

    ^^^This, except, tell them not to cook the fajita's with any kind of oil... Also ask for black beans instead of refried beans, and if you are like me and LOVE spanish rice, just ask for 1/2 an order of the spanish rice... :-) Also I will ask for some extra vegetables, too.
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    1. If it's slathered in sour cream or yellow cheese, you're eating "mexican food". Find a place that serves real Mexican food. Eat where Mexicans eat.

    2. 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.

    molcajete.jpg
  • toysbigkid
    toysbigkid Posts: 545 Member
    bumping for this one.....love mexican food!
  • MsMargie1116
    MsMargie1116 Posts: 323 Member
    grilled chicken breast or grilled shrimp taco salad with salsa as a dressing, hold the cheese, guacamole, and sour cream

    Ehhh, I usually hold the cheese and Sr. Cream, but GOTTA have the guac!!! Guac is a good fat, so I usually go with it. :smile:
  • BandedTriaRN
    BandedTriaRN Posts: 303
    I found out that some of the restaurants surprisingly have pretty low calorie refried beans. Chicken or Fish with a salsa or salsa verde is yummy. IDK but I heard that there can be 1 gram of fat per tortilla chips at Mexican restaurants. You should check and see if they have online nutrition charts so you can make your choices ahead of time.

    I don't know if this is the restaurant you are talking about but this is one for an Hacienda restaurant:
    http://www.haciendafiesta.com/?p=nutrition
  • fitandyoga
    fitandyoga Posts: 27
    Taco salads!
  • Ange_
    Ange_ Posts: 324 Member
    i once saw this on a mexican travel cooking show and i now make it all the time.

    Bake some sweet peppers (capsicums) in a hot oven until the skin blisters (one per person). Then peal off the skin and get rid of the seeds while leaving it as intact as possible. Then stuff them with your favourite refried bean recipe.
    Mine is a can of kidney beans cooked and mashed with some tomato, cinnamon, salt pepper, chill and touch of sugar (a 400g can serves 2 people).
    Stuff the capsicums. And serve with some fresh chopped coriander (celantro) guacamole and if you like (optional) low fat grated cheese.

    So filling! and insanely healthy.

    Alternative recipe is a Mexican refried bean pizza. Use the same bean recipe. Put on a tomato paste covered pizza base (whatever you usually use that is low cal such as a pitta bread). Then spread some beans on thickly. Top with a little cheese, cook until the base is crisp and once it is out of the oven top with guacamole and coriander.
  • Leimaro
    Leimaro Posts: 148 Member
    Fajitas and maybe non cheesy tamales not cooked in lard are my first choice. Or, anything else minus the cheese, sour cream, refried beans and some occasions rice (authentically rice is fried in oil first before it is boiled). Another tip, is to enjoy yourself but eat half of what you order, the portions tend to be big.
  • Michelle81285
    Michelle81285 Posts: 107
    Fajitas just dont have the tortillas, cheese, sour cream, guac, rice and beans! Or Carne Asada or carnitas.
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    Fajitas and maybe non cheesy tamales not cooked in lard are my first choice.
    If it's cooked in lard, it's not a tamale. Tamales are steamed.

    If it doesn't have lard in the masa (dough), it is not a tamale. It's an abomination.
  • Leimaro
    Leimaro Posts: 148 Member
    1. If it's slathered in sour cream or yellow cheese, you're eating "mexican food". Find a place that serves real Mexican food. Eat where Mexicans eat.

    2. 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.

    molcajete.jpg

    You are right about eating authentic Mexican food. Way more healthier and tastier than the common Tex-Mex food served in Restaurants in my opinion.
  • Leimaro
    Leimaro Posts: 148 Member
    Fajitas and maybe non cheesy tamales not cooked in lard are my first choice.
    If it's cooked in lard, it's not a tamale. Tamales are steamed.

    If it doesn't have lard in the masa (dough), it is not a tamale. It's an abomination.

    You are right again! I meant to say cooked "with" lard and not "in" lard. And yes, no lard in the masa mix is an abomination but the question was asking for healthier choices.
  • Leimaro
    Leimaro Posts: 148 Member
    Wait a minute! that's made with lard. jeez
  • Hemera
    Hemera Posts: 6
    I like to order fajitas and then just eat the meat and veggies with a fork, like a stir fry. If you skip the tortillas and sour cream (which I actually don't like anyway, don't know about you), it's pretty healthy. A lot of times they come with rice as a side, and you have to watch how much of that you eat, but otherwise it's basically grilled green peppers, onions, and chicken (or beef if you have more calories to spare).
  • jenbridges
    jenbridges Posts: 213 Member
    fajitas are a good option, as are soft shell "street" tacos, which are made with soft (not crispy or "hard shell") corn tortillas, and not flour tortillas. they usually come with just onions/tomatoes/cilantro and the meats are generally grilled. they are usually available a la carte, so you don't have to have the fattening beans and rice.
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    And yes, no lard in the masa mix is an abomination but the question was asking for healthier choices.
    Omitting the lard in the masa will bring the wrath of Quetzalcoatl!

    200px-Quetzalcoatl_1.jpg
  • tmpayton
    tmpayton Posts: 148 Member
    bump-that pepper recipe sounds delish!
  • Justin031811
    Justin031811 Posts: 14
    paleo mexican food= grilled chicken or beef with cheese, guacamole, and peppers/onions

    calorie counters: grilled chicken breasts, salsa/pico de gallo, peppers, tapatio, black beans

    tortillas are a no go in all diets.
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    tortillas are a no go in all diets.
    Glad I'm not on a diet, and can eat them in moderation. :drinker:
  • Justin031811
    Justin031811 Posts: 14
    tortillas are a no go in all diets.
    Glad I'm not on a diet, and can eat them in moderation. :drinker:

    They're not horrible per say, but they are empty calories if someone is a calorie counter. For me, I try to stay away from all starch sorts, diet or not.
  • Leimaro
    Leimaro Posts: 148 Member
    And yes, no lard in the masa mix is an abomination but the question was asking for healthier choices.
    Omitting the lard in the masa will bring the wrath of Quetzalcoatl!

    200px-Quetzalcoatl_1.jpg

    LMAO, you're too funny!
  • ImNotThatBob
    ImNotThatBob Posts: 371 Member
    Try a Chicken or Steak Tampiqueña

    MG_6754.jpg

    Steak smothered in Grilled Hatch Green Chile, Onions, Green and or Red Peppers, Jalapeño strips, and Tomatoes. Covered in melted Asadero or Pepper Jack Cheese. Hold the beans and Rice. Ask for some extra shredded lettuce. Usually comes with guacamole and sour cream. Add a Chile Relleno on the the same plate if you're hungry.

    Thanks. Now I'm Hungry. LOL

    Enjoy!

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