EMAIL THREAD

mexican food

when you go out to a mexican resturant what do you order?

Mon. Aug 13, 2:54pm

There is seriously nothing healthy at a Mexican restaurant. I usually go with shrimp fajitas and avoid the guac and sour cream.

Monday, August 13, 2007, 2:56 PM

Tacos Al Carbon

or some combo plate with Cheese Enchilada and above Taco. Of course with Rice/Beans

Monday, August 13, 2007, 2:56 PM

there is a lot of "hidden" lard in this cuisine. i prepare mexican food at home and spare myself the unknown. go out for drinks after.

Monday, August 13, 2007, 2:57 PM

It's not like we do it all the time though. So once in a while can be a treat!

Monday, August 13, 2007, 3:01 PM

OP here

will i be pretty safe with chicken fajitas? i don't eat sour cream or guac so i'm okay there..... I also will only eat 1 taco with the chicken fajita meat, and then I'll just eat the chicken without the tortialla is that okay?

Monday, August 13, 2007, 3:06 PM

that sounds like a good plan. they will probably serve lettuce and tomatoes, too. enjoy!

Monday, August 13, 2007, 3:13 PM

You should be okay. Just don't make it a habit. Oh another thing... the chips and salsa (actually its the chips), are loaded with fat!!!

Monday, August 13, 2007, 3:19 PM

Just do a quick calorie count in your head for chicken fajitas:
Chicken - usual amount served - 250/300 calories - target portion on your part 200 calories
Tortilla or taco shell - 100 calories
load up on lettuce, throw in some tomatoes - 70-100 calories
TOTAL: average of 350/450 calories, not a bad count for a dinner. Also, everything but the tortilla/taco shell is pretty low in fat too. Just stay away from the margaritas and you should be okay (way too many calories to count)!! :)

Monday, August 13, 2007, 3:29 PM

guacamole is excellent for you so don't feel you have to avoid that always! yes it's high calorie/high fat but it's much better for you than so many other options!

Monday, August 13, 2007, 3:32 PM

Try and incorporate some exercise to help you burn some of the calories!

Monday, August 13, 2007, 3:34 PM

Does anyone know what kinds of spices they put on fajitas? I know they do peppers, onions, and meat, sauteed in a cast iron skillet with some oil and spices. I'd like to make them at home. How do I get the flavor right?

Monday, August 13, 2007, 4:03 PM

OP here

Thank you!!!!!

and no worries about adding in exercies That's already part of my plan. :) I really need to step it up in the health food choices department!!!!

Monday, August 13, 2007, 5:12 PM

Guacamole is not bad for you as long as they don't make theirs with sour cream and its just avocados. Avocados are loaded with good fats, so if you can ask for sliced avocados instead of guac. Skip the sour cream, load up on the pico and ask them to use less oil when making your dish. You'd be surprised how many places are happy to use less oil or even a spray when cooking your food. Also a lot of mexican places now have a choice between black and refried beans, go for the black. And always ask for half the cheese or ask for it on the side.

Monday, August 13, 2007, 8:19 PM

there's something you can buy called liquid smoke- it's in the grocery stores, I've seen it and bought it before. A little of this in the marinade gives fajitas that smokey taste!!

Monday, August 13, 2007, 9:52 PM

I LOVE mexican food and miss everything I used to have at the restaurants.

I usually now order chicken or shrip fajitas as well. I skip the tortillas, rice and cheese and just eat the chicken/shrimp, veggies & beans, still pretty good considering.

To the OP, I now LOVE to make them at home as well. I cut up the chicken into small portions and put them in a zip lock, add a little olive oil and either your own seasoning or you could purchase a "Fajita Seasoning" packet/envelope from any grocery store. Mix all together in zip lock. Add some olive oil to a pan, let it get real hot, add cut up bell peppers, onions, or whatever else you want, cook until almost done, or to the tenderness you prefer then add the chicken mix, cook until chicken is done. Once in a while I'll put the fajitas in a whole wheat tortilla or add ff or nf sour cream and always add salsa for added flavoring. Very yummy. Good luck.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 1:31 PM

There are low cal foods at mexican restaurants...

First, I have to comment that it is funny that Mexican food is known for being heavy. I am Mexican and 3rd generation Californian. I grew up with tons of fresh vegtables and fruits everyday. Okay, we are talking about the perversions that pass for Mexican food in the this part of the world. Here are some alternatives if your restaurant serves them: Caldo (Soup usually made with very clean chicken meat and lots of vegtables. The oil you see in the soup is minimal and has boiled out of the already cleaned chicken. The oil in Caldo is only obvious because of the soup being so clear and nutritious. Most restaurants do not season it much figuring you put in your salt, etc.), corn tortillas - individually very low cal (look them up on the internet). Corn tortillas are low cal at restaurants because they usually serve small ones. Guacamole - spread one or two tablespoons on your low cal corn tortilla, along with cilantro (chinese parsley), or whatever and you have a low cal snack or mini meal. Tamales - the flour or masa they use to make them is spread thin (remember they use the least possible to save money) and expands when cooked. The inside is usually pretty clean chicken/beef. Look up tamales on fitday.com. Fatty meats in tamales don't taste right and make the masa (flour) too wet. Tostadas are nothing but a fried tortilla (u don't have to eat it or eat all of it) with vegtables, refried beans and meat. Use those low cal corn tortillas to eat the veggies and meat and taste - only taste the beans (really leave the fried tortilla alone.) Lastly, u can always order ala carte most low cal stuff I have mentioned. Another suggestion - I do not know where everyone lives but try to stay away from chain Mexican restaurants - they have the highest caloric food and it is usually very inauthentic and tastes all the same. Go for family run establishments who have alot of pride in the clean taste of their food (Mexican people can tell the difference when someone is using fat or lard to fill their food and cheat the customer) Yuck! Truly authentic Mexican seafood is very different but great and low cal as fish usually is. Lastly, always ask about ingredients - if they snit, don't go back. Even restaurants where you hear spanich spoken usually have someone who speaks english. Mexican food as presented by chains and taco bell is fattening but real Mexican food is no more fattening than "American" food. You just have to familiarize yourself with more "authentic" dishes. Hope this helps someone out there. Truly hope I did not offend anyone either.

Monday, September 17, 2007, 12:50 AM

12:50-
This Texan couldn't agree more! Now I'm hungry for some fish tacos!

Monday, September 17, 2007, 9:38 AM

Albondigas soup (meatball) - has lots of veggies. Cocido is a soup with beef on the bone with lots of veggies. Add some limes, salsa and they are yummy, low cal and low carb.

Monday, September 17, 2007, 5:17 PM

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