[Kae]

Hey all-

I'm going out to dinner with a friend this week and she wants to go to the local Mexican Restaurant. I don't want to derail my efforts because I finally feel like I am losing again. So, I'm looking over the menu and trying to find the healthiest options. Opinions would be lovely.

Here's some things from off the menu:

Carne Asada Tacos:
Two flour tortillas filled with marinated steak, white onions, cilantro, and guacamole. Add salsa and enjoy. Served with refried beans or black beans and Spanish rice.

Fajitas:
Sizzling fajitas served with red and green bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Every order accompanied with guacamole, sour cream, refried beans or black beans, pico de gallo, lettuce, cheese, and hot flour tortillas.
---Steak Fajitas
---Chicken Fajitas- 8 oz. grilled chicken breast
---Veggie Fajitas- Extras peppers, onions, and tomatoes

[ShylahEQ]

I'd say go for corn tortillas over flour. You can usually have 2 corn for 1 flour in terms of calories. I'd say pick one of sour cream, cheese or guacamole. Or go without all three if you can.

The mexican place I go to makes the best refried beans in the world. I end up skipping the rice, guac and cheese and allow some beans and sour cream.

I also tell them to skip the tortilla chip bowl. I have a hard time resisting them.

Good luck!

[JustBeckyV]

It is hard to eat mexican!! I say go with chicken when you can and nothing deep fat fried.

[Kae]

I didn't know corn tortillas were better than flour... interesting. My sister works there so maybe I can ask about substituting them.

[AmyMW]

I tend to go toward a fajita salad with salsa as dressing and maybe a bowl of tortilla soup (as them to leave out the cheese).

I love mexican food, so it is definitely one of my hardest to do good at... good luck

[ShylahEQ]

I was not a big fan of corn tortillas before calorie counting. I saw one day at home that the flour tortillas I ate were 110 calories a piece. I ate 3 tacos normally! Egads!!! At the store I saw the corn in the brand I liked were only 50 cals a piece. Sometimes they are around 65 I have found too. I could have 3 tacos still and saved a ton of calories.

They tasted a ton better after that

[Eliana]

I love to do the fajitas!! I just eat the fillings and ditch the tortillas, sour cream, rice, beans and never ending bowl of chips. Just the fajita filling is quite healthy, except for the hidden salt.

[Nikki6kidsmom]

I get the veggie fajitas, with no tortillas, no sour cream or guac, extra lettuce. I make a veggie salad out of it and it is filling and good. The hardest part for me is those darn chips. I usually ask for a small plate and take out 10 chips and put the basket next to who ever I am with so I am not tempted.

[Kae]

Thanks everyone for the opinions!

I asked my sister and she said I can sub the corn torillas... yay! So I think I am going to get the steak or veggie fajitas with corn tortillas, skip the refried beans and cheese.

[JayEll]

I order a la carte--no rice, no beans. They are just high-cal fillers in my book. I will get something like 1 taco and 1 enchilada. I also either don't eat any corn chips or count how many I eat.

Jay

[time2lose]

Eliana originally posted I love to do the fajitas!! I just eat the fillings and ditch the tortillas, sour cream, rice, beans and never ending bowl of chips. Just the fajita filling is quite healthy, except for the hidden salt.

I do what Eliana does. I eat the fajita meat, red and green bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes.

[Kae]

Originally Posted by JayEll

I order a la carte--no rice, no beans. They are just high-cal fillers in my book. I will get something like 1 taco and 1 enchilada. I also either don't eat any corn chips or count how many I eat.

Jay

Definitely! I'll be skipping the rice and beans for sure. And God help me, I'm going to do my best to not eat the chips.

[Eliana]

Originally Posted by time2lose

I do what Eliana does. I eat the fajita meat, red and green bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes.

I even consider it an "on-plan" meal.

[Michelle98272]

Ask for the chips to be removed from the table. Drink lots of water. Order the fajitas (get chicken if you can) with extra veggies, ask for 0 quac and sour cream. When the food comes, ask for a "to go" container, put half in (I've gone so far as taking it out to my car right then so as not to be tempted, if you have more self control, skip that step!) Ask for corn tortillas, enjoy one or two...the pico de gallo is very low calorie as is most salsa's so feel free to use that!

Have fun!!

[PeanutsMom704]

Originally Posted by Kae

Thanks everyone for the opinions!

I asked my sister and she said I can sub the corn torillas... yay! So I think I am going to get the steak or veggie fajitas with corn tortillas, skip the refried beans and cheese.

This is what I would do - I do get guac and sour cream but I just put a tiny bit of the fork tines for flavor. I also tear off pieces of the tortilla so I will have a little bit with each bite but they go a lot further than if you try to roll one up, so you can still have some of the flavor and texture without going overboard.

I'd also second the idea to have the chips removed from the table, although that might not go over with your friend, so I'd just make sure they were close to her side of the table and try to ignore them!