Mexican restaurant food is a lot like a girl with a bad reputation. Everyone focuses on the faults without seeing the good qualities underneath. Contrary to the rumors, fresh, wholesome foods are lurking under the cheese and sour cream of a typical Mexican meal.
To eat more sensibly and still have mucho taste, just follow these tips for healthier versions of each dish. You'll have a trimmer waistline before you can say "Ole!"
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Goodbye Margarita, Hello Mary
When celebrating with your girlfriends, it's easy to lose track of the drinks. Just one of those monster Margaritas can pack as many as many as 700 calories, not to mention the additional bloat you'll feel from the salt. A better choice if you're imbibing is a spicy Bloody Mary, or a Bloody Maria made with tequila. At only 125 calories, you can afford to make a toast to a slimmer you.
Pass the Chips
By "pass the chips," we mean "pass them up." Those baskets full of chips that seem to magically refill are equal to a whole family-sized bag of snacks. Ask the waiter to take them away. If you want just a taste, put a sensible portion on a plate and then have them removed. You'll curtail the mindless munching, and you can save that salsa for a zesty low fat topping when your food arrives.
Stay Single
Those combination platters with a couple of everything can be enough to feed a family. Multiple menu items on one gigantic plate means triple the calories and fat. Flip to the a la carte menu, where you can order sensible single menu items in reasonable portions. One enchilada with spicy shredded chicken is plenty. Order a smart side dish or two, and you'll be full at a fraction of the fat cost.
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Make it Sizzle
Baked enchiladas are covered in sauce and a mountain of cheese. Hard shell tacos have been fried in oil, and you can be sure they've soaked up every ounce to pass on to your hips. The best cooking method for weight watchers is the grill. A sizzling plate of fajita-style veggies and chicken makes a filling dinner, and even better, the condiments are served on the side, so you can add toppings in restrained amounts.
A Little on the Side
Side dishes can be friend or foe. Refried beans, unfortunately, have enemy status. Many places cook them with huge amounts of lard or oil. Be bold and see if the restaurant has beans that haven't been refried. Most do, so you can happily have a dish of calcium-rich beans without all the unwanted fat. If your eatery has black beans or brown rice, you can practically make a health food meal out of your fiesta.
Top That!
Even if you make healthier selections, the condiments can do you in. Big dollops of sour cream and generous helpings of guacamole make even the skinniest meal choices into a pigout. When topping that tortilla, think high flavor, not high fat. Now's the time to use that salsa that came with the chips. A squeeze of lime is a zesty topper for most chicken or fish. If you like a little heat, adding peppers or hot sauce can add zip without calories.
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Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
Keep in mind that you're the customer, so customize. Does the dish you want come in a white tortilla? Ask for a corn tortilla to add nutrition. Does the otherwise light grilled fish have a Skip the deadly sauce on top, and ask for a lemon wedge. That taco salad doesn't have to come in a deep fried bowl. Ask for it on a plate. Make your own rules, and you'll make a new body before you know it. Now that's a reason for a fiesta!