How to pick the healthiest foods at a Mexican restaurant?
Plan flavorful, balanced meals with these tips:
- Char salsas. To achieve maximum flavor, try dry-roasting your tomatoes, onions and chilies. ...
- Seek balance. Mexican cuisine revolves around food group balancing. ...
- Spice it up. Mexican food is famous for its use of flaming hot spices and variety of fresh seasonings. ...
- Eat green. ...
- Reinvent the taco. ...
- Incorporate seafood. ...
- Bank on beans. ...
- Add seeds. ...
What is the best low calorie Mexican food?
What is the lowest calorie food to eat at a Mexican restaurant?
- Instead of Stuffed Jalepeño Peppers or Chiles Rellenos, try grilled chicken wings.
- Instead of quesadillas, order Sopa de Albondigas, which is a meatball and vegetable soup.
- Substitute a Jicama Salad for nachos.
- Try Pollo Asado, grilled chicken, instead of Chimichangas or Flautas.
What food has the lowest amount of calories?
Top 50 Low-Calorie Foods
- Meat. Not only is chicken one of the best low calorie meats available, but it’s also loaded with protein and low in fat, making it an awesome addition to a ...
- Seafood. ...
- Vegetables. ...
- Fruit. ...
- Legumes. ...
- Dairy and Eggs. ...
- Grains. ...
- Nuts and Seeds. ...
- Drinks. ...
- Condiments. ...
What food has the lowest cost per calorie?
- Peanut butter - rich in fat and protein.
- Avocados - rich in fiber, pottasium and healthy fats.
- Olive oil - a much better option for frying foods, than other oils.
- High-fat cheese - contains protein and calcium.
- Dark chocolate - contains a lot of fat instead of sugar.
- Fish - rich with healthy omega-3
What is the lowest calorie food at Mexican restaurant?
Grilled proteins are typically some of the lowest-calorie foods at a Mexican restaurant, as long as they're paired with smart side dishes. Choose grilled seafood, chicken or steak with a side of black beans or grilled or sauteed vegetables.
What can you order at a Mexican restaurant with a calorie deficit?
Dishes that you should get at Mexican restaurantsChicken and Vegetable Fajitas for One- 1,3500 - fajitas can be an easy low calorie option. ... Taco salad- 700 calories - However, without the chip shell it can be only around 500 Calories.Grilled Shrimp Salad - 570 Calories.More items...•
What is the healthiest option at a Mexican restaurant?
10 Healthiest Menu Items at Mexican RestaurantsCeviche. ... Order an Appetizer, Plus a Side (or Two) ... DIY Nachos. ... Grilled Salmon, Black Beans and Veggies. ... Burrito Bowls. ... Fish or Shrimp Tacos. ... Taco Salad (Sans Shell) ... Fajitas.More items...
What is healthy at Mexican?
Mix and match healthy options like grilled meat (chicken, fish, shrimp), ceviche (raw seafood marinated in lemon or lime juice and other seasonings), black beans, brown rice, avocado salad, sautéed veggies, or tortilla soup.
How many calories are in Mexican chicken fajitas?
Even a seemingly healthful order of grilled chicken fajitas with the standard accompaniments can top 1,500 calories, 150 grams of carbs and 1,600 mg sodium.
Are fajitas healthy for you?
Fajitas use one of the healthiest available cooking methods: grilling. They also come with grilled vegetables such as bell peppers and onions, which are valuable sources of antioxidants. Go for shrimp or white-meat chicken, instead of steak, to avoid the saturated fat content of red meat.
What is the best thing to eat at a Mexican restaurant on Weight Watchers?
Lighten it up: The best filling choices are chicken or steak. Figure on 16 SmartPoints value for beef and 12 for chicken. Also, ask for the tortillas to be cooked in the pan, not the fryer. This can shave 2 SmartPoints values off three tortillas.
Are tacos or burritos healthier?
Burritos have a higher micronutrient content than tacos. They have more iron, with 18.7 milligrams of iron, or 10 percent of the DV; riboflavin, with 0.4 milligram, or 21 percent of the DV; and more folate, with 43 micrograms, or 11 percent of the DV per burrito.
How many calories are in a typical Mexican meal?
Main Entrees1 large beef burrito424 calories1 medium beef taco272 calories1 chicken chalupa400 calories
Are enchiladas healthy?
Are Enchiladas Healthy? Typically, enchiladas are not what one considers “healthy.” They're loaded with a lot of heavy, saturated fat and refined carbs that make them something you don't want to eat on THE REG.
Are tacos healthy for weight loss?
When you're dining out, one order of tacos could contain more than 1,500 calories and 60 grams of fat. Especially when tacos contain a combination of meat and cheese, they're likely to be higher in saturated fat. You can consume this type of fat as part of a healthy diet, but it may be best in moderation ( 37 ).
Are burrito bowls healthy?
ARE BURRITO BOWLS HEALTHY? Yes, they are! Well-balanced with protein, carbs and healthy fats. You can make them lower in carbs by swapping out the rice for Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice and leaving out the corn.
What are some low calorie Mexican food?
When choosing a low-calorie Mexican entrée, look for items prepared in a healthful manner, such as grilled, sautéed or baked, rather than deep-fried or braised. Fajitas or tacos that have grilled shrimp, black beans, fish or chicken fillings are a better option than fried fish or higher-calorie beef options. Focus on consuming the protein and vegetable fillings rather than high-calorie tortillas. Watch out for the condiments that typically arrive with your dish, including cheese, sour cream and guacamole, all of which can boost a healthy entrée’s calorie content tremendously.
How many calories are in a Mexican entree?
Typical Mexican entrees come with a side of rice and beans, sometimes listed as arroz con frijoles, which can have 700 calories, according to the USDA Nutrient Database. To reduce the caloric content of your side dishes, ask for pinto or black beans instead of refried beans, which have a higher fat content, and skip the rice.
How many calories are in salsa?
Although salsa can be high in sodium, it’s a good choice, calorie-wise, with just 10 calories per 2-tablespoon serving. The real problem is the deep-fried tortilla chips, which have 139 calories per ounce.
How many calories are in grilled fish tacos?
— Marisa Moore, RDN. "An order of two grilled fish tacos has between 400 and 500 calories, and they're a good source of protein and healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
What is ceviche in Mexico?
"Eating ceviche, which is raw fish marinated in lime juice and herbs, reminds me of being in Mexico! It's a simple meal that doesn't contain any calorie-laden ingredients like corn or cheese. Plus it's rich in zinc, which helps the body metabolize glucose and is great for radiant skin! Since they're usually served tapas style, I typically order two different varieties." — Dana James, nutritionist and founder of Food Coach NYC
What to do instead of dipping chips in guac?
Instead of dipping chips in your guac, ask for some cut vegetables. This adds healthy nutrients to your meal while saving calories.". — Isabel Smith, MS, RD, CDN, registered dietitian and founder of Isabel Smith Nutrition.
Can you order avocados without cheese?
Depending on how they're served, I often order them without cheese or sour cream and ask for avocado and salsa instead. Salsa adds great flavor and, if you order the spicy variety, can also help boost your metabolism. Avocados have a satisfying creamy texture that I love, and they also contain heart-healthy fats.".
How many calories are in guacamole?
If your table orders guacamole or chili con queso, you may want to steer clear. The USDA reports that 1/4 cup of guacamole contains more than 91 calories and chili con queso has more than 85 calories per 1/4 cup. There's nothing inherently wrong with having a snack with a few hundred calories.
How many calories are in a 3 oz enchilada?
Refried beans: 130 calories per half-cup. Black beans: 110 per half-cup. Enchilada sauce: 15 calories per half-cup. If you frequent Mexican restaurants, you may want to have a few go-to dishes that you know you can fit into your calorie budget.
How many calories are in corn chips?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that just 1 ounce of corn chips will set you back 141 calories. However, the number of Mexican restaurant chips' calories you consume may vary depending on how they cook the chips.
Is it bad to eat chips and dip?
There's nothing inherently wrong with having a snack with a few hundred calories. Depending on your goal, a few chips and some guacamole could fit. However, it can be easy to overeat chips and dip, especially as you wait for your meal.
Is Mexican chips healthy?
After you have your Mexican restaurant chips' calories, the Mexican restaurant nutrition you get depends on what type of entree you order and how much of it you eat. You can also make healthy choices within each kind of meal. For example, tortillas are staples in Mexican restaurants, and soft corn tortillas are generally the healthiest option.
Do restaurants have to put calories on their menu?
According to an April 2016 study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, about half of all restaurants are single-site or small-chain eateries that do not have to put calorie counts on their menus.
