HEALTHY Mexican food

Chimichangas. Enchiladas. Quesadillas. Guacamole. All these words have a few things in common- one of them is FLAVOR. Another one is CALORIES.

As Mexican food has evolved and migrated from its origin, it has accumulated grease and cheese. It wasn’t always this ways. According to yourtotalhealth.com, a website designed by NBC and Ivillage dedicated to health, Mexican food was created as a health dish that incorporated “fresh ingredients such as vegetables, fish, and fruit.”

Healthy Ingredients

The ingredients that make up Mexican food palate are “some of the richest in antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, and in cholesterol-free protein” according to yourtotalhealth.com. What are these ingredients? Here are a couple examples:
-Beans: Protein and fiber.
-Corn: Protein
-Tomatoes : Great sources of Vitamin C and A.
-Varieties of squash, such as pumpkin: Vitamin A and/or beta-carotene.
-Avocados: Vitamin E
-Chiles: Vitamins A and C.

Cooking Healthy Mexican:
-Steam or grill your meat- do not fry!

-Warm tortillas: Wrap 5 or 6 of them in aluminum foil and warm in a 325-degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes.

-For tortilla chips or tostadas: Put them in a 350-degree oven, turning until crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes

How to Eat Healthy at Mexican Restaraunts

If going to Mexican restaraunts is hard for you because of the oh-so-many unhealthy choices, here are a couple tips from About.com's weightloss articles to think about when dining out.

-When in doubt, choose soft over crunchy. For example, tortillas. Soft aren't fried, crunchy are.

-Salsa over dip. Those cheese dips taste as good as they are greasy.

-Fajitas, bean burritos and sauteed chicken dishes are a do. Chimichangas, enchildadas, and nachos are a don't.