By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    health benefits of taking a vacation to reduce stress
    Relaxing European Destinations to Reduce Stress Risks to Health
    October 11, 2021
    pain management tips
    Managing Pain Differently: Alternative Pain Management Techniques
    January 12, 2022
    5 Ways to Promote Wellness in Your Home
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Cognitive Risk Declines with Activity
    June 22, 2011
    Scientific Advances on Contraceptive for Men
    July 25, 2011
    Alzheimer’s Preventable with Lifestyle Changes
    August 30, 2011
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How To Make Your Favorite Mexican Dishes Healthy
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Wellness > How To Make Your Favorite Mexican Dishes Healthy
Wellness

How To Make Your Favorite Mexican Dishes Healthy

James Lewis
James Lewis
Share
6 Min Read
eating healthy for mexican meals
Shutterstock Photo License - By Marie Sonmez Photography
SHARE

Healthy eating is very important if you want to have a good physique and avoid future ailments. You will need to know how to change some of your dishes to be lower in saturated fats and sodium and higher in other nutrients.

Contents
  • Burritos
    • The tortilla
    • The filling
  • Quesadillas
    • The cheese
    • The filling
    • The sauces
    • The tortilla
    • The filling

When it comes to nutrition and clean eating, Mexican cuisine often gets a bad rap, and this is not entirely undeserved. Greasy, deep fried Tex-Mex has obscured the subtler, more well-rounded authentic Mexican food. While your average burrito comes loaded with fried vegetables, melted cheese and, consequently, lots of fat, many traditional Mexican recipes can be made much healthier.

Whether you’re eating in or out, there is a great, untapped healthy potential of Mexican staple foods. For the diner who might also be finding it especially hard to let go of that trademark cheesy meatiness of Tex-Mex, here are a few wholesome twists on these dishes that can try to meet your indulgent side half-way.

Burritos

The tortilla

How healthy a burrito can be depending on a few factors? To start, consider what type of flour tortilla you have. You can eliminate fat and preservatives by purchasing uncooked flour tortillas, rather than the supermarket version which are made from highly processed flour and therefore contain trans fats. If you prepare it properly, it can even be a healthy meal on the road.

More Read

Health and Wellness Tips After Enduring an Injury at Work
Alcohol Rehab Programs Are the Most Effective for Treating Addiction
5 Tips for Taking Hormones During Gender Transition
5 Ways a Bad Mattress Negatively Affects Your Health
Patient-Centered Approach to Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (podcast)

In fact, as an alternative, the corn tortilla would be the more authentic, traditional option in Mexico. These soft-shell tortillas (made from masa harina flour) have been a staple ingredient of Mexican cuisine for thousands of years. Packed with fibrous whole grains, they are also celiac friendly, unlike flour tortillas.

Mexican connoisseurs Gran Luchito even recommend losing the tortilla altogether in favour of a burrito bowl. Their collection of burrito recipes includes tortilla-less variations such as pulled pork bowls, steak bowls, and vegetarian takes on the dish.

The filling

When it comes to the filling, rather than sautéed or fried, chicken that is broiled, grilled or poached will have the least amount of added calories, with maximum flavour to boot. Generally speaking, the leaner the meat, the better. Shredded beef can be tender when cooked slowly, with a fat quantity of less than 15%, but there are other alternatives like turkey, or simply having black beans as your main protein.

Quesadillas

The cheese

Cheese is where a lot of calories and saturated fats come into play with popular Mexican dishes, and this is largely why Tex-Mex warrants its reputation for un-healthiness. Each ounce of shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese that ends up on your plate adds around 115 calories and 9 grams of fat. ¡Dios mio!

The filling

The main perk of quesadillas is that they are quick. What’s more, you can kill two birds with one stone by making this fast meal even healthier: just lose the meat. Alternatives like portobello mushrooms take less time to cook, and if served along with black beans, you will have a protein-rich, succulent supper on your hands. In the southwestern style of quesadilla, these beans are the norm, along with chopped onions, peppers, tomatoes and cheese. An extra-special, highly authentic take would be to fill your tortillas with frijoles charros instead of the more traditional refried beans. These are slow-cooked beans in a broth with bacon, tomatoes and herbs, packing a saucy punch while containing less salt and fat than its Tex-Mex counterparts.

The sauces

Sour cream gives you that delicious hybrid of crisped up tortilla and tangy creaminess, but you can keep it healthier by opting for the low-fat kind. Better yet, lose the cream altogether and amp up the herbs and spices instead to achieve that crucial acidity. Coriander with salsa and pico de gallo are both excellent alternatives. If you’re not quite ready to give up the queso (after all, quesadilla does get its name from being that ‘little cheesy thing’), whack in some quinoa. This option is gluten-free, high in protein, nice and fibrous, and rich in amino acids, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins.

Tacos

The tortilla

Tacos might seem like the hardest of these three Mexican staple foods to make healthy, as its basic composition already puts it in the trans fatty camp, with its deep-fried, crispy shell. But what if we told you that this is another Tex-Mex mistake? In Mexico, tacos are usually made from soft tortillas, only smaller than the tortilla you’d use for a fajita or burrito. If you’re home cooking and looking for a more authentic, healthier alternative, why not just make your own petite taco shells? These avoid the saturated fats and cholesterol count in the crispy taco.

The filling

In terms of filling, while shredded beef is commonly used, nutrient-rich fruit and veg are similarly a staple of your traditional taco. Just go big on lettuce, tomatoes and onions. While you’re at it, get some monounsaturated fat from adding avocado. By including black olives or pinto beans, you can also stock up on your antioxidants, which can protect you from a whole host of health risks.

TAGGED:dietdietinghealthy eating
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

non-clinical spaces
Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
Health Infographics
August 13, 2025
senior care at home
Breaking The Chain Of Infection For Seniors At Home
Infographics Senior Care
August 13, 2025
medical devices
The Lifecycle Of A Medical Device: From Concept To Disposal
Infographics Technology
August 13, 2025
Why Delaying Care For Minor Injuries Can Lead To Bigger Problems
Infographics Wellness
August 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Can Cannabis Treat ADD or ADHD?

January 27, 2016
Home HealthWellness

Surprising Facts You Didn’t Know About Nutrition

September 18, 2018
Image
Health ReformNewsPolicy & LawPublic HealthWellness

Should We Tax Fat?

June 1, 2012

Cool Infographic: Obesity Around The World: New Year’s Resolution, Anyone?

January 2, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?