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Are fajitas unhealthy?

healthyeating.sfgate.com - Healthiest Foods to Order at a Mexican Restaurant

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Choosing to eat more healthfully doesn’t mean you can't dine at your favorite restaurants. Mexican food, like most cuisines, offers a broad range of dishes that vary significantly from a nutrition standpoint. For the healthiest Mexican fare, go for dishes featuring lean protein and plenty of veggies, and request any heavy sauces on the side.

Shrimp or Chicken Fajitas

Fajitas use one of the healthiest available cooking methods: grilling. They also come with grilled vegetables such as bell peppers and onions, which are valuable sources of antioxidants. Go for shrimp or white-meat chicken, instead of steak, to avoid the saturated fat content of red meat. Ask for black beans instead of refried beans, which often contain lard. Choose corn tortillas, which have fewer calories and less saturated fat than flour tortillas.

A Vegetable Burrito

The nutritional pros and cons of burritos weigh heavily on the filling. While a burrito loaded with cheese, sour cream, beef and rice is probably one of the least nutritious Mexican options, a burrito full of steamed or grilled vegetables and black beans or diced, grilled chicken breast is a good choice. If you love cheese or sour cream, request that the chef “go easy” on both – or choose one or the other. If you have your burrito with a side salad, you can easily bulk up your bites with light items such as leafy greens and fresh-cut tomatoes.

Fish Tacos

The grilled fish in tacos is typically lean and protein-rich. Often seasoned with lemon or lime juice and herbs, the fish is very flavorful, without the unhealthy fat of heavy sauces. Request corn tortillas, if possible, as well as extra veggies. You can also ask for less cheese and for any creamy sauces to be served on the side. Black beans make a good side here as well, adding fiber and a contrasting texture to the mix.

Taco Salad with Dressing on the Side

Taco salads may sound healthy, but they can contain more unhealthy fat and calories than other obviously rich entrees. But the base of the salad, fresh veggies, is nutritious and the rest can be tweaked. Ask for the dressing on the side, and consider using olive oil and vinegar or salsa instead of creamy dressing. For protein, choose beans or grilled lean chicken or fish. If the salad is served in a fried tortilla bowl, skip it or eat only a small portion.

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