[abcunnin]

Hi All,

I'm back after a year or so hiatus...along with about 60 pounds I had previously lost (gained all but 30 back).

Yesterday was my first great day in a long time and I'm hoping for some advice for today. My co-workers and I often go out for Taco Tuesday lunches. I usually get 2 al pastor soft tacos and chips with salsa. I clearly know I should cut out the chips. I'm wondering if people have other advice about what to order that would keep me within 300-500 calories (I'd like to stay on the lower end) and will be nutritious and filling.

Thanks!

[bargoo]

How about a Taco salad, just don't eat the shell ?

[angieand2girls]

If the place you eat at has the nutritional information for their menu items, I'd highly suggest taking a look at it. Sometimes calories can be extremely high for what would appear to be healthy choices. I remember taking a look at a restaurant's nutritional info for a salad and it was 1,000 calories! Getting the nutritional info (if possible) would be your best bet.

[mnemosyne]

If the place you eat at has the nutritional information for their menu items, I'd highly suggest taking a look at it. Sometimes calories can be extremely high for what would appear to be healthy choices. I remember taking a look at a restaurant's nutritional info for a salad and it was 1,000 calories! Getting the nutritional info (if possible) would be your best bet.

This is so true! And if it is a local place that doesn't have nutritional info available, if you go there EVERY WEEK you could talk to the server / cook to see how things are cooked. I think the soft tacos are probably fine. Even a couple of hard tacos would be fine. It's probably the chips and salsa that are the problem with your meal, it is so easy to inhale them. But you could go for fajitas and ask them not to use much/any oil to prepare them. Eat more of the veggies and meat and less of the tortillas. Load up on the salsa, et cetera.

[Ash2007]

It honestly depends on the place. You can make healthy tacos at home no problem but when you are going out.. it is harder to know how they prepared the food. I say go with 1 of your usual tacos.. and maybe bring a apple to eat for a snack or as a side. Do they have any veggie tacos? I would go with fresh veggies though..nothing fried.

[GeraldineHearne]

Most restaurants, even top quality ones use a variety of ingredients and cooking methods you wouldn't normally use at home to make the food as tasty as possible. As others have pointed out, it can be extremely difficult to know exactly how much energy is contained within the food you are eating.

Stick to something you know the calorie content of, otherwise you are shooting in the dark!

G

xx

[Arctic Mama]

If its a normal Mexican restaurant I'd just get a fajita or carne asada without the rice/beans/tortilla - it's delicious and filling. If it is tacos, specifically, I'd get an adobada/fish/carnitas taco without the shell.

[abcunnin]

Thanks, everyone! I am happy with my choice. I had 2 grilled chicken soft tacos with salsa fresca and black beans on the side. I only ate one of the soft tacos (and they were the really small ones).

[Katie4004]

Salad with minimal dressing, croutons, and cheese.