Please Palate With Mexican Food

Mexican food can please your palate with a variety of spices and unique flavors as long as you don't go overboard on chips and salsa. Although some of the dishes are fried and way too cheesy, Mexican fare can include loads of fresh or lightly sautéed vegetables, beans, lean meat and fish, as well as a variety of grains.

Choose these more often:

• Grilled meat or fish
• Shredded spicy chicken
• Rice and black beans
• Shrimp or chicken fajitas
• Fish marinated in lime juice and mixed with spices (ceviche)

Choose foods that are made or served with:

• Salsa (hot red tomato sauce)
• Salsa verde (green chili sauce)
• Enchilada sauce
• Shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and onions
• Corn or soft wheat tortilla
• Chili vegetarian tomato sauce
• Picante sauce

Source: So What Can I Eat?! How to Make Sense of the New Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Make Them Your Own (Wiley 2006), Elisa Zied, MS, RD, with Ruth Winter, MS.