Recipe of the Week

Often times, I am asked what is "healthy food." Truth is, healthy foods are exactly what your common sense tells you. Generally, if you can find it in nature, it's healthy (nuts, fruit, grains, meat). If it has to be manufactured, chances are, it is not (i.e. chips, crackers, cookies, etc.). I suppse the toughest part is making these natural, healthy foods taste good. So, I will start posting some healthy, easy, and tasty recipes that I sometimes eat (when I am not dieting for a show of course).

Healthy Mexican Food:

Tortillas:

There are a variety of tortillas out there that are laden with fat and poor ingredients. Your best bet to stay healthy are the whole wheat or sprouted wheat variety. You might have to do some searching, but they are out there. I personally get mine from trader joes. There are also a variety of sizes, choose the one for what you prefer (tacos, burritos, etc.).

Proteins:
The bulk of your tortilla should be filled with some healthy, low fat protein. Some options include chicken breast/thigh, lean steak, lean ground beef or turkey, pork tenderloin, ham, egg whites. or seafood. Again, the choice here depends on how you feel. Make sure you buy the leanest cut available, as you want to maximize your fillings, while not going overboard on the calories.

Fats:


Fats in your tortilla should be used sparingly. I have a picture of some sargento reduced fat cheese, which is a much better choice than those nasty fat free versions. Other options for fats in your tortilla include some avocado, whole eggs, or reduced fat sour cream. Remember, use only a little bit of these fats as they can make or break the health factor here.

Toppings:
You can never go wrong with fresh tomatoes or fresh salsa for a topping. It adds moisture and a ton of flavor. I personally also use some hot sauce like tapatio or cholula. Cottage cheese mixed with salsa works pretty well also. Limes will enhance the flavor of the proteins. You can also add some fresh vegetables or beans in there, which will add some fiber and good vitamins to the meal.


There you go, with those ingredients, you cannot really go wrong with making some tasty, and healthy mexican food. Portion control is always key, so use your common sense while eating. Remember, you only need to eat enough to keep you full for about 3 hours, since you should be eating 5-6 small meals a day.