Which Mexican Foods is better and worse For Your Health?

Find out just how these favorites contrast, so you'll be able to choose intelligently.

Which is even worse: Chips and guacamole or a cheese quesadilla?
Worse: Chips as well as guacamole

One thing that permits celebrity quesadilla to increase above the chips and dip on the healthy scale are the fried as well as salted chips, describes Indiana University Health dietitian Anna King, R.D. A 1-ounce serving of salted tortilla chips has around 134 calories, almost 6 grams of fat, as well as more than 90 milligrams of salt. Considered that it could be difficult to eat simply 1 ounce of chips, you're likely to keep digging right into that guacamole for at the very least as long as your server keeps re-filling the dish. So, although an appetizer-size cheese quesadilla (5 to 6 inches in diameter) could load as several as 342 calories and also 22 grams of fat (fifty percent of them saturated), due to the fact that it's a single serving you obtain integrated part control. Still desire those chips? Pile 10 to 15 of them-- that's about an ounce-- on a side plate together with a quarter cup of guacamole (100 calories, around 9 grams of mostly-healthy fat, as well as 5 milligrams of sodium), states King. After that, munch gradually so they last till your entrée arrives.

Which is worse: Steak fajitas or beef tacos?
Worse: Beef tacos

At a common chain dining establishment, three soft or crispy-shelled tacos full of hamburger, cheese, and lettuce could clock in at as lots of as 1,020 calories as well as 60 grams of fat (virtually half which are filled, many thanks to both the beef and celebrity). A common steak fajita entrée with three flour tortillas and also no dressings is worth merely 780 calories, 37 grams of fat, and 8 grams of hydrogenated fat. Besides being inherently healthier, a put-it-together-yourself-at-the-table recipe like fajitas better permits you to regulate what you put in your mouth. Select garnishes very carefully, suggests King: Stick with low-fat, low-calorie alternatives like salsa as well as pico de gallo, get that velvety appearance with a small glob of guacamole instead of sour cream, order black beans instead the commonly lard-laden refried selection and end celebrity entirely.

Which is worse: Chicken burrito or cheese enchilada?
Worse: Cheese enchilada

" A spray of cheese could include taste as well as a nice gooey appearance to food without costing a great deal of calories and fat," claims King. "But when cheese is the cornerstone in a recipe the calories, fat, and also hydrogenated fat are likely to be overpriced."

A typical 3-piece enchilada order packs around 1,020 calories and also 69 fat grams (30 grams filled). On the other hand, a chicken burrito will certainly have 850 calories as well as merely 28 grams of complete fat (around 12 saturated). Plus, the burrito will likely include some nutrition-boosting add-ins-- lettuce, tomatoes, black beans. Burritos normally are full of rice, though, which can include vacant calories and also carbohydrates, so ask to have your burrito without it. When it comes to the sour cream that's usually component of the burrito plan: Just claim no.

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