Don't Max Out on Mexican Food

First things first. I love Mexican food. I mean,
I L-O-V-E love it. When my cheat meal rolls around, 9 times out of 10 I will choose tacos or enchiladas or both to satisfy my cravings for the bad.

But you know as well as I do that Mexican food is laden with saturated and trans-fats that go straight to the thighs and arteries. While the mouth says "Yes, more please," the body says "You can't be serious! This is a heart attack in a tortilla!"

If , like me, you treat yourself to a number two combination plate only occasionally, you may not need to alter your ordering habits at your favorite Mexican restaurant.

On the other hand, if you find yourself eating at Mexican eateries quite often, you may want to consider these suggestions to limit your fats and save your waistline:

1. Share. The average combo plate has 2000 calories, Share with someone to cut the calories in half, or take half home to eat for lunch tomorrow.
2. When ordering fajitas, ask for less oil and no cheese.
3. On tacos and tostadas, ask them to hold the cheese.
4. Ask if the restaurant has black beans. Black beans typically have half the calories of refried.
5. Limit yourself to one tortilla and skip the butter.
6. When ordering a combo plate, limit yourself to two items. Your best choices are a soft taco and a tostada. Tamales and cheese enchiladas are your enemy.
7. Use willpower when the chips and salsa arrive at your table. Half a basket of chips is roughly 250 calories.
8. When ordering an appetizer, opt for fresh guacamole. It contains the "good fats" that your body needs. Just don't overdo!
9. Choose chicken or fish over beef or cheese. They are likely to have less calories and fat.

If you have an On the Borders Restaurant near you, give them a try. The Border Smart menu is full of dishes that are in the 500-calorie range and all quite good.

So, the next time you crave Mexican food, remember these tips. Ole!