Looking for healthy Mexican food options? Here’s what to order.

By on May 30, 2024

Mexican food is a fan favorite for a reason. Everything on the menu is delicious and flavorful. Just like many cuisines, Mexican food has a huge range in options—and in how healthy they are. If you’re trying to look after your health but still enjoy Mexican food, here’s what to order.

Tacos

Tacos are a classic Mexican food dish, and they are ideal because they have built-in portion control. Corn tortillas tend to be smaller than flour tortillas, so there is a fixed amount of food in each taco. If you’re on a diet, you can manage your calorie intake by choosing to eat just a couple of the tacos on your plate instead of a huge mega-burrito.

Fish, leaner steaks and grilled chicken are all great taco options, while charizo or carnitas may be a bit fattier.

Fajitas

Another great choice on the menu is the ever-popular fajitas. Fajitas are usually served in a build-your-own format, giving you a higher control of what you eat. Onions and bell peppers are packed with vitamins, minerals, and all-important fiber.

Grilled chicken and lean meats are great options for protein, providing an overall healthy meal. Add a little dab of guacamole for the healthy fats, and you are on your way to a healthy and delicious meal.

Burrito Bowl

A burrito bowl is essentially a burrito without the tortilla. If you’re trying to enjoy your food while cutting back on carbs or calories, losing the tortilla can be of great benefit to your diet. Adding lots of lettuce and healthy black beans as a topping can help add fiber and nutrition to your meal.

Although avocado is high in fat and calories, remember that not all fats are bad. A little guacamole with your burrito will both add flavor and help satisfy your body with the kind of fat that is good for your heart.

Soups

Mexican soups, such as tortilla soup, often offer a lot of nutrition for the amount of food given. They also tend to be lower in calories. Black bean soup and tortilla soup are two examples of healthy soup options commonly available on the menu.

Although black bean soup and tortilla soup are the more familiar options on the menu, don’t be afraid to try a different one. Nearly all Mexican soups are healthy options, so if that pozole looks good, it may still be a healthy choice.

While a chimichanga is a good example of a (delicious!) but high calorie, high fat Mexican good, many options on the menu are much healthier and lower in calories. Authentic Mexican food is very healthy, and reflects the foods available in it’s home region.

Although, just like any other cuisine, there are plenty of unhealthy options, there’s also quite a few items on the menu that are delicious and nutritious. If you’re trying to watch your weight or eat heart healthy, you can still enjoy Mexican food as long as you know what to look for on the menu.