Cinco de Mayo is this coming Friday, and it's an excuse to indulge in more than our fair share of Coronas, margaritas, and of course, food. But as many people may know, Mexican food isn't always considered to be all that light and healthy. Heck, a basket of chips and salsa could put you well over your daily calorie needs in one tequila-fueled haze. The American Heart Association lists a few tips to keep your health in check when you're shouting out "Ole!"
- Instead of flour tortillas, which are often made with lard, opt for corn tortillas, which can contain little to no fat.
- Choose grilled chicken, fish or shrimp over fried carnitas (beef or pork) or chorizo (sausage).
- Rather than refried beans (this is always the killer for me), go for frijoles a la charra or borracho (simmered in liquid).
- Sour cream, cheese, and guacamole can be replaced with as much flavor from good salsa, pico de gallo, and fresh chopped cilantro, onions, and japalenos.
- Instead of a plain quesadilla, order fajitas and stick with the tips above for corn tortillas and salsa
- If you get a "taco salad," resist eating the shell
5-02-2006 @5:40AM Nikole said... Soyrizo is another delicious alternative. It has all of the flavor and none of the mystery of normal chorizo.
Reply
5-02-2006 @11:34AM Alice said... Anyone who thinks you can replace sour cream/guacamole with salsa is kidding themselves.
Reply
5-02-2006 @2:09PM Don said... You might be able to get away with replacing sour cream with yogurt.
Doesn't "borracho" mean drunkard? So are the beans simmered in beer?
Reply
5-02-2006 @2:48PM Mike said... Sorry, but that's the silliest story I've seen here in a long time. The post implies that the American Heart Association is telling you to avoid fat on Cinco de Mayo.
If you're on some crazy fat-avoidance diet, then the tips they provide will guide to you the lower fat options. But if on one day you're going out to celebrate and eat Mexican food, being paranoid about the tortilla chips is just nuts.
If you like sour cream and quacamole it's not going to be the same with some soy, salsa or yogurt substitute. Eat the good stuff. If you want to cut down on the fat, then eat less. If you can't eat less while drinking tequila, then eat less at breakfast and lunch that day.
Eating low fat substitutes for something you enjoy is not the only way to reduce fat in your diet. Eating less of the things you enjoy is also acceptable. Eating less could also mean eating one special meal a month instead of every Friday night.
The AHA may know about fat, but they don't know squat about eating. If you're on a diet, it's perfectly acceptable to avoid eating all birthday cake.
Except your own.
Reply