Makeover Mexican

I don't know about you, but mexican food has always had a hold on me. The salsa alone makes me swoooooon! But going "out" for mexican can be a real dooooozy on your waistline....the bowl of fried tortilla chips alone can cause you to rack up an extra 500 calories before you have even ordered your entree! So what's a foodieGIRL to do when mexican is what she desires? Well here's some tips (at botom of the page) from our friends at the American Heart Association  to help you navigate that menu, avoid all the saturated fat and sodium that comes with the price tag of a mexican meal. and still come home deliciously satisfied! P.S. And order a regular sized margarita (skinny) which means without all that extra sugary sour mix. It will not only taste better with fresh lime, agave nectar and the finest tequila, but will save you on all those extra calories from the unnecessary sugar. You don't need to go swimming in a fishbowl, save that for the fish!

Mexican at home is really simple too! The benefits are are amazing! You can control the quality of ingredients, fat and sodium and even eat mexican more often when you make it at home! So next time you're craving some of your favorite mexican dishes, rework those recipes at home with fresh ingredients and lowfat options.

Here's one of my "go-2's" when I want to satisfy my nacho craving! (Picture at top of this page)

Craving Nachos?

1 serving of blue or yellow corn tortilla chips (15 chips)

(brand Garden of Good Eatin)'

1 cracker barrel lowfat cheddar cheese stick

1/4 of an avocado diced (healthy "good fat")

2 Tbs. black beans

2 Tbs. salsa

Place chips onto a microwaveable plate. Top with black beans and cheese. Melt in microwave for 30-45 seconds, until cheese is melted. Top with avocado and salsa. ENJOY!

HOW DOES THIS STACK UP?

serving.... 1 plate of nachos

Restaurant Nachos: 600 calories.

Reworked Home Version: 325 calories

MEXICAN RESTAURANT MAKEOVERS~American Heart Association

Flour tortillas	Corn tortillas
Nachos	Grilled shrimp
Carnitas (fried beef or pork) or chorizo (sausage)	Grilled fish or chicken breast
Refried beans	Frijoles a la charra or borracho beans and Spanish rice
Full-fat sour cream and cheese	Salsa, pico de gallo, cilantro, jalapeno peppers
Quesadillas (flour or corn tortilla, filled with meat and cheese and fried)	Chicken fajitas (marinated chicken grilled with onions, green peppers, lettuce, diced tomatoes with a soft corn tortilla)
Chalupas and tacos	Taco salad or fajita salad (don't eat the tortilla shell and ask for low-fat sour cream) Chicken or beef enchiladas with red
Flautas (crisp, rolled tortillas stuffed with shredded meat and topped with a sauce); chimichangas (flour tortillas filled with spicy meat and Monterey Jack cheese, fried and topped with tomato sauce); burritos (large flour tortillas filled with beans or meat, served with tomato sauce and topped with shredded cheese)