Enjoy Your Favorite Mexican Food While Staying Healthy

Recipes provided by Danyelle Freeman of Restaurant Girl.

Who doesn't love Mexican food? We do! Unfortunately, our favorite Mexican dishes tend to be loaded with fat and calories. That's why we love these variations on our favorite traditional Mexican foods. Don't give up taste or flavor; just make these easy swaps instead!

1. Guacamole: Guacamole often gets a bad rap because avocados are rich in fat. But it's actually good fat-the kind that's monounsaturated, helps lower cholesterol, and good for your heart. Not to mention that avocado's are actually a fruit, not a vegetable, and they're higher in potassium than bananas. The creamy combination of avocado, cilantro, onion, and tomato is divine and even better for you if you scoop up this dip with jicama or carrot sticks instead of tortilla chips.

2. Posole: Forget chicken noodle soup, this traditional Mexican soup is my favorite cure for a cold! It's typically made with pork or chicken, but we prefer the healthier chicken version of this tremendously comforting dish. Posole is filled with lots of garlic, chiles, onion, lime juice, and my favorite, hominy (hulled corn with a lot more nutritional value). Suddenly, getting sick doesn't sound so bad.

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3. Grilled fish tacos: People see the word taco and assume it's unhealthy, but that's not always the case. In fact, fish tacos are a perfectly good option as long as the fish is grilled, not fried. Just steer clear of "Baja-style" fish, which tends to be deep-fried before making its way into your soft taco. Add a little cabbage, salsa, and a dab of guacamole and you've got a fantastic meal. And if you're watching your carbs, skip the taco shell.

4. Ceviche: You might think of ceviche as a "seafood salsa" of sorts-light, refreshing, and most importantly, filled with flavor! And it's so simple, just fresh, raw fish mixed with lime or lemon juice, tomatoes, onions and other seasonings, such as chiles, oregano, or cilantro. Instead of oil or butter, the fish is "cooked" or cured in the acid of the citrus, so there's no added fat.

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5. Anything a la parrilla: Scan the menu for the phrase "a la parilla," which means grilled over an open flame. (That's a very good thing when you're looking for lighter options at a Mexican restaurant.) The most typical preparations are shrimp, calamari, steak, or salmon a la parrilla. The char of the grill imbues your fish or meat with a deliciously smoky flavor.

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