To Eat or Not to Eat: Is Traditional Mexican Food Healthy?

Aromatic and flavorful.

Oftentimes spicy, yet you simply can’t get enough of it.

These are probably the perfect things you can say about Mexican food. There is no denying that wherever you are in the world, once in a while, you will crave for a plate of tacos and fajitas.

But for the health conscious, there is this lingering question. Is Mexican food healthy?

All these talk about flavors, spices, aroma, and creamy sauces can be off-putting for some.

After all, they may add a significant amount of calories that you would not want.

Is Mexican Food Considered Healthy?

Calories, calories, and calories. A lot of Mexican entrees tend to be loaded by salt, fats, and other calorie-laden ingredients.

While this may not directly scream of unhealthiness, it can still make some people raise their eyebrows and be on the edge of their seats.

In one sitting of let’s say a very flavorful and meaty Mexican food, you can already get a day’s worth of sodium, carbs, and fat intake.

So what about the other meals you need for the rest of the day? Are you to skip it to enjoy a savory bite and gulp of that burrito?

On the other hand, the same thing can actually be said to most cuisines you could think of.

Just imagine a food without all the herbs and spices that make it so tasty.

Think of your favorite dish from Chinese cuisine without the basic ingredients that make it flavorful. Would it still taste the same? Definitely not.

So if you think about it, there is still a silver lining. The good news is, there can always be a compromise for you to eat guilt-free.

You don’t have to constantly ask yourself with every bite of a Mexican food if it is considered healthy or not.

What are some Healthy Mexican Food You Can Order?

While there are Mexican foods that are salty and fat-laden, there are more options that are healthy and balanced.

These healthy Mexican foods remain flavorful and just as good as the way you imagine it to be.

1. Fajitas

   Grilled food like Fajitas tend to be healthier compared to those that are deep-fried.

   Deep-fried entrees carry extra oil and fats that are not exactly healthy.

   Other than this, a great thing about fajitas is that you can choose the base ingredient you want.

   Chicken, beef, shrimp, and vegetarian are some common varieties of fajitas you can choose from. And these are all healthy.

   Most restaurants serving this food will let you customize it so it would be better to choose extra veggies and spices like onion.

   Better not add extra sauces and cheese as these are commonly full of oil and fats.

2. Guacamole

   Is real Mexican food healthy? Well, you can never go wrong with a guacamole.

   Whether you are making it at home or ordering in a Mexican restaurant, guacamole is always a great choice.

   The basic ingredients of guacamole include avocado, lime, onion, cilantro, tomatoes, and some spices of your liking. You may even pair it up with more vegetables like lettuce to make it healthier and tastier.

   With a bowl of guacamole, you can totally eat in peace.

   Rest assured that you need not to be bothered by a question like is Mexican food healthy when dealing with this food.

3. Taco Salad

   While some may say that a taco salad is not necessarily healthy, there are easy ways to make it balanced.

   First of all, you may opt for a soft corn taco shell instead of a hard one.

   Hard and crispy taco shells are commonly deep-fried so best believe these are packed with extra oil.

   For this, you may either choose beef or grilled chicken.

   If you prefer having the former, it would be better if it’s lean ground beef so fats wouldn’t be much of a concern.

   The rest of the salad include the basic ingredients of vegetables, radishes, light spices, corn, and bell pepper.

   To make it even healthier, you may opt to remove or at least lessen the cheese and sour cream that come with it.

4. Burrito Bowl

   If there is one very popular Mexican dish known in the entire planet (other than guacamole of course), it is burrito.

   But for this recommendation, we are choosing a bowl over a regular burrito.

   A regular burrito uses a wrapper that is made of wheat flour. If you are conscious of your calorie intake, better ditch the wrapper for a healthy bowl.

   Other than the wrapper, there is not much of a difference between these two.

   Normally, the same shredded chicken or ground beef are used along with other ingredients such as rice, beans, lettuce, onion, and tomatoes.

5. Caldo de Camaron

   Is traditional Mexican food also generally healthy? Well if we’re talking about dishes like Caldo de Camaron, the answer is a resounding yes.

   Shrimp soups are very popular in various regions of Mexico and these are known to be healthy and delicious.

   In the United States, most Mexican restaurants such as ours here in El Rincon have their own versions of this soup on the menus.

   Basic ingredients include shrimp (peeled or tail-on), bay leaf, onion and garlic, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, pepper, and salt.

Treat Yourself with Authentic Mexican Dishes

Like in everything that you do or every food you eat, Mexican food in moderation is a great and healthy thing.

There are always ways in which you can make these dishes more balanced without taking away its flavorful taste.

So on your next trip to your local Mexican restaurant, you need not to worry about munching your spicy and tasteful dish.

Craving for Mexican food? Contact us today or head on over to El Rincon Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar. Texas locals and tourists alike can order from our locations in Carrollton and Addison.

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