How Can I Stay on My Low Fat/Low Sugar Diet at a Mexican Restaurant?

Eating out at a Mexican restaurant is fun and relaxing. It means you don't have to cook and you don't have to clean up afterward, and you know the food is going to be good. But for many people on a diet, eating out can be a nightmare. There are a number of options in these situations---you just have to know what questions to ask and how to read the menu. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Plan Ahead

Mexican food is known for being rich and full of fat. The University of Massachusetts Amherst found that the Mucho Grande nachos from Taco Bell can pack as much fat as 10 glazed doughnuts from Dunkin' Donuts. But not everything on the menu at a Mexican restaurant is off limits for people who are on a low fat/low sugar diet. First, have a game plan. Be prepared when the chips and salsa are delivered to your table, and stick to your plan. You can bring along carrot or celery sticks to dip into the salsa, for example, so you don't feel left out when everyone else is chowing down. Be prepared for peer pressure, and learn to just say no.

Food

Avoid soft drinks, margaritas, any alcoholic drinks that are high in sugar content, fried foods and taco meat. Also stay away from cheese and sour cream, both of which are loaded with fat. Acceptable foods to enjoy at a Mexican restaurant are salsa, low-fat refried beans, grilled chicken, guacamole, vegetables and black beans. If you order a salad, you can also use the salsa as a healthier, lower-fat alternative to regular salad dressing.

When ordering tortillas choose corn, which has less fat than flour tortillas. Then again, you could skip the tortillas altogether and eat just the inside. For example, with a grilled chicken burrito, skip the tortilla and eat the chicken and lettuce. You can add fresh veggies on the side. If you are going to eat meat, make sure it is grilled rather than fried. Avoid steak fajitas as they are high in fat; a healthy alternative would be vegetable fajitas. Many restaurants are very accommodating, so just ask if you have special requests.