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!

Remember, there are no “bad” foods (read:  “Bashing a Common Diet Belief; No More Bad Foods,”) and that goes for Mexican food as well.  Just remember to tread lightly, eat everything in moderation, and most importantly — Enjoy!

 

This entry was posted on Friday, June 24th, 2011 at 7:35 am and is filed under Health. Tags for this post: BMI, calorie, Calorie Counting, Diet, Diet Ideas, fat calories, fat grams, Health, Healthy Eating, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Keeping Weight Off, Living Thin, Losing Pounds, maintaining weight, nutrition, real age, Weight Loss, Weight Maintenance, weight management. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.