A Look at Some of the Best and Worst Mexican Dishes for Your Health

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(Newswire.net — June 25, 2020) — There is simply no denying that Mexican food is delicious. And, with the abundance of affordable Mexican restaurants available these days it’s more than easy to get your fill every night of the week. The only problem is that eating certain food won’t do your health or diet any favors. For instance, many of the entrees that you’ll get from these restaurants are packed with oil, lard, and salt. All ingredients that you’ll want to stay away from if you’re trying to diet or dealing with certain medical conditions. Throw in the loaded sour cream and cheese and you can get more than an entire day’s worth of calories, saturated fat, and sodium in a single meal. That doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy Mexican. You just need to know what to enjoy and what to stay away from.

Bad For You: Deluxe Burrito

Just because you are getting one burrito it doesn’t mean that you are eating lighter. Especially not if it is deluxe. Because when it comes to burritos, size does matter. Not only this, but this is a dish that is oftentimes topped with scoops of high-fat cheese and sour cream. Not to even mention the fact that the entire thing is wrapped in a giant flour tortilla. You could easily be looking at 900 calories or more here just in a single burrito. Still can’t stay away? Well, maybe go a little easier on the rice, cheese, and sour cream and you’ll be doing yourself a world of favor. Heck, you could likely even cut the meal in half and save one half for another day.

Not Bad For You: Burrito Bowl

How about if you eliminate that wrapped flour tortilla altogether? That’s an excellent idea and one that will save you right around 300 calories. To make the entire dish a little healthier, you can opt for brown rice, black or pinto beans, and grilled chicken or lean steak. Speaking of chicken, check out this recipe from Corrie Cooks. It’s an instant pot Mexican chicken recipe that you can whip up in an hour or less right in a pressure cooker. The chicken is filled with flavors and so juicy and spicy that you won’t know what to do with yourself. Serve it with some rice and steamed vegetables and you’ll have an authentic Mexican meal that you can make right in your own home for half the price you’d pay in a restaurant.

The Best For You: Tacos

Who would have thought that tacos have built-in protein control? That’s exactly what they got because they’re smaller than most of the other dishes on the menu, allowing you to keep your calories in check. Order the grilled chicken, lean steak, or grilled fish on baked corn tortillas and you’ll be doing yourself some giant favors as well. The baked corn tortillas are always a better option given that they have 70% less fiber and less than half the fact of those flour tortillas.