Mexican Food Nutrition
Mexican food is famous world over. It is known for its different flavors, use of colors for decoration and the usage of variety of spices and ingredients which give an authentic spiciness to Mexican food recipes.
A lot of Mexican dishes are fried with lard and topped with cheese. This increases the level of saturated fat and sodium in Mexican foods. Save yourself from the high fat and sodium content by making the right choices. Direct yourself towards burritos, soft tacos or fajita instead of hard shell tacos and crispy tortillas that are high in calorie content. If you like beans, choose pinto or black beans rather than their deeply fried cousin - refried beans. Have fresh homemade salsa rather than canned salsa.
If you are health conscious, then you can choose the following Mexican dishes.
- Brown rice, no fat black beans, low-fat cheese.
- Choose whole wheat tortillas, corn tortillas and soft tacos.
- Take marinated vegetables, grilled chicken and Vera Cruz style fish.
- Eat fish tacos (grilled fish, coleslaw light on mayonnaise, chopped tomato salsa).
- Include salsa with meals as it is made of vegetables and keeps you healthy.
| Mexican Foods | Calories | Fats | Carbs |
| Black Bean Soup (1 Bowl) | 200 | 3 | 34 |
| Buesco Fresco | 80 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Burritos: Bean | 380 | 12 | 54 |
| Burritos: Big Beef | 520 | 23 | 51 |
| Chili plain | 90 | 6 | 8 |
| Chili Corn Carne 1 Cup | 310 | 17 | 15 |
| Corn Chips Cup | 160 | 10 | 17 |
| Empanadas 1 Small | 230 | 10 | 28 |
| Fajitas: Soft Chicken | 200 | 7 | 20 |
| Horchata | 120 | 0.5 | 27 |
| Nachos | Calories | Fats | Carbs |
| Taco Bell, Big Beef | 430 | 24 | 43 |
| Bellgrande (Taco Bell) | 740 | 39 | 83 |
| Del taco: Regular | 390 | 23 | 39 |
| Del Taco: Machos Nachos | 1090 | 61 | 110 |
| Quesadilla | 370 | 20 | 32 |
| Refried Beans cups | 160 | 3 | 26 |
| Sopaipillas 1 pc. | 100 | 7 | 10 |
| Sopaipillas with Honey and Cream 1 pc | 200 | 14 | 18 |
| Tacos | Calories | Fats | Carbs |
| Taco: Regular | 170 | 10 | 11 |
| Chicken Taco | 180 | 5 | 23 |
| Taco Supreme | 230 | 13 | 13 |
| Big Border Taco | 280 | 16 | 17 |
| Taco Salad with Salsa | 280 | 16 | 17 |
| Taco Sauce Cup | 15 | 0 | 3 |
| Taco Shell Regular | 50 | 2 | 8 |
| Tamales, Van Can | 150 | 8 | 14 |
| Tostada (Taco Bell) | 300 | 14 | 31 |
| Tortilla Corn | 70 | 1 | 14 |
| Tortilla Chips 1 oz | 150 | 8 | 18 |
The above given table provide you a detailed look at Mexican food nutritional value.
Interesting Facts
Mexican food is a spicy and tasty trap full of calories, fats and sodium. The deep-fried tortilla chips, high fat meals, creams, cheese, guacamole, deep-fried beans and deep-fried dishes can give you loads of calories and pounds. So if you are a Mexican food lover don't worry follow these points which will help you choose the foodstuffs that are low in fat content.
- Have salsa as much as you like. It is made up of fresh vegetables which are good for health.
- Have small quantity of chips. Enjoy guacamole in small portions, I know it contains healthy fats, but healthy fats are also fats.
- Also take cheese in small portions, it contains calcium and protein but a higher amount of fats are found in cheese.
- Have beans, nutritionists say beans are an excellent source of fiber, proteins, vitamins and minerals. They are also in calories. If you are addicted to refried beans, choose the fat-free ones.
- Eat grilled seafood, meat and poultry.
- Have dishes that have plenty of veggies, lettuce, tomatoes and salsa. These foodstuffs have high fiber content, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.
- Always use low-fat cream for chips and other snacks.
- Choose corn over wheat tortillas as they have fewer calories, less content of fat and more fiber.
