Mexican Food Options That Are Low-Carb When Eating Out

 Typically, when people hear the word Mexican food, they think of tacos, enchiladas, and tamales, along with rice, beans, and chips that are always on the table. There are many low-carb Mexican dishes available if you can think outside of these constraints. Grilled meats and shellfish are frequently the focus of the meal in Mexico, and sauces are frequently made using fruit and vegetables rather than flour or other sources of carbohydrate.  

Depending on the type of Mexican restaurant you go to, the options on the morning menu may change. While there may be a broader selection at La- Vista, a Mexican restaurant, quick-serve establishments are more likely to provide burritos and other portable foods.  

Machaca  

This filling Mexican breakfast is made out of sautéed eggs, meat, and vegetables. Depending on the serving size and preparation technique, the dish's carbohydrate content varies. However, a serving of one cup will typically have roughly 140 calories. Carbs make up around 5% to 6% of those calories. Only two grammes of carbohydrates overall will be present in each meal.  

Burritos 

You should be able to maintain a morning burrito on your list of go-to low carb dishes if you can order it as a bowl (no tortilla) and omit the beans. The flour tortilla will increase the amount of carbs. In general, stay away from bean-filled burritos and stick to ones that have eggs, meat, and cheese.  

Depending on size, a typical breakfast burrito may include between 25 and 60 grammes of primarily starchy carbohydrates and 200 and 600 calories. Remember that a big wheat tortilla may have more than 60 grammes of carbohydrates; thus, if you omit the tortilla, you may have a considerably lower-carb alternative.  

Appetizers  

In many Mexican restaurants, starchy, fried meals like tortilla chips are sometimes the most well-liked starters. As you would expect, consuming items like these would not help you maintain a low-carb diet. There are additional choices, though, if you go through the menu and ask your waitress for adjustments.  

Guacamole  

Guacamole is not only tasty, but it is also healthy. As an alternative to chips, inquire whether the eatery offers slices of cucumber or jicama. If not, reserve the guacamole for your main course.  

Guacamole typically has 35 calories per two tablespoon serving, but just three grammes of carbohydrates. The majority of the calories in this well-liked dip are from good fat.  

Ceviche  

This citrus-marinated fish is frequently served with parsley, onion, and bell pepper, among other chopped raw veggies. The meal is loaded with minerals and protein. Three ounces, or one serving, will likely have roughly 140 calories and three grammes of carbohydrate.  

Soup  

In this broth-based soup, there are meatballs and vegetables. If you are currently on an extremely low-carb diet, you should generally avoid the meatballs as they often contain some rice.  

Ask how the soup is made if you order it since it will have a significant influence on the nutritional breakdown. Inquire whether you may receive your meatballs with grilled chicken or steak instead if the meatballs are made with rice.  

Salads  

If you follow a low-carb diet, salads are nearly always a wise choice. Make it a meal by adding some carne asada or another type of protein on top, or enjoy it as an appetizer or side dish. Just make sure to take out any crunchy, fried, or starchy toppings.  

Main Courses  

Depending on the kind of restaurant you go to, the options for entrees may change significantly. Compared to a well-known Tex-Mex restaurant, a traditional Mexican eatery is likely to include more low-carb options.  

Avoid ordering platters and instead request a change. Always ask for the rice or chips to be held. Low on the glycemic index are beans (they are less likely to produce a blood-sugar spike). They may be more tolerable for certain persons than other carbohydrate sources. Nevertheless, you might wish to keep the servings modest.  

Seafood

Grilled fish and flavorful sauces are staples of coastal Mexican cuisine (salsas). Take advantage of this opportunity to receive a protein source that is regularly associated with excellent health if you don't often cook fish at home. Depending on the cooking technique, carb counts will change, but in general, grilled white fish, like tilapia, has no carbs.  

Smoked Meats  

Try some chicken meals or carne asada, a beef dish has Mexican seasonings and occasionally serve with grilled vegetables and salsas. Again, carb counts vary depending on the recipe, but the majority of meat and poultry have no carbs. But be careful with any condiments you might add.  

Mole sauces, for instance, come in a variety of flavors. Some have complicated blends of chiles, spices, seeds, and frequently chocolate and may be sweet and/or heavy in carbohydrates, while others may not contain a lot of carbohydrates. Obtain information on any sauces from your server, and if required, request the sauce on the side.  

Fajitas  

If you desire a low-carb Mexican lunch, this traditional low-carb recipe is readily accessible and ideal for you. Simply leave out the tortilla. If you request no tortillas, your request for no tortillas, some eateries, your waiter can be amenable in some eateries, if you expressly request for no tortillas in some eateries, The quantity of veggies you eat will therefore affect your overall carbohydrate intake. As a point of comparison, a full red bell pepper has roughly seven grammes of carbohydrates.  

Green Chili  

This dish is hot and frequently contains meat. This stew can be low-carb friendly in some variations. Others, however, like those prepared with beans, will have too many carbohydrates. Order carefully because it's unlikely that you will be able to make a substitute for this menu item.  

Beverages  

Your daily carb intake might increase for reasons other than just eating Mexican food. It might be challenging to order traditional beverages in Mexican restaurants.  

Margaritas  

For some folks, eating Mexican food would just be incomplete without a margarita. Some Mexican eateries offer sugar-free versions even though the majority are laden with sugar.  

Depending on how much triple sec is used, a classic margarita made with tequila, lime juice, and triple sec contains up to 36 grammes of carbs. But at least it lacks the added sugar that comes with a sweet and sour combination. You may request your margarita without the triple sec and add artificial sweetness if you would like (keep a small bottle of Sweetzfree liquid handy).  

Beer  

It Budweiser Select and Amstel Light (5 grammes of carbohydrates each) are two options for low-carb beer (less than 2 grammes carbohydrate).  

Dessert  

While many of your favorite sweets may be made in low-carb variations at home, restaurant desserts typically include more carbohydrates. Famous Mexican desserts are frequently fried and dusted with sugar. Churros, for instance, have 12 grammes of carbohydrates per serving.  

White Cake 

This well-known creamy white cake is delicious and contains a lot of carbohydrates, as you might expect. A single serving will probably include at least 26 grammes of carbohydrates.  

Flan  

Because flan lacks the starchy texture of a cake or cookie, it appears that it may have fewer carbohydrates. But a lot of sugar was used to make this meal, which has a caramel-like flavor. A four-ounce portion will increase your daily carb consumption by at least 32 grammes. If you want something sweet after dinner but are trying to stick to a low-carb diet, take a spoonful of your dining companion's choice.  

Conclusion 

If you can think outside of these restrictions, there are numerous low-carb Mexican foods available. In Mexico, grilled meats and seafood are typically the main course, while fruit and vegetables, rather than flour or other forms of carbohydrate, are commonly used to make sauces. However, to eat these you do not need to drive you can have all these in Hong Kong at La Vista, a Mexican restaurant & Bar