By Meredith Ratliff
I LOVE food!
Who doesn’t, right? If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you do too. Living in the US gives all of us amazing opportunities to experience the cuisines of the world, which unfortunately can be detrimental to my self-control when it comes to eating! One of my favorite cuisines is Tex-Mex. When most people think of Tex-Mex, they think of heavy and fat-laden meals, which can be true! So the question becomes, “How do you eat the foods you love and still eat healthfully?” Here are several strategies that have worked for me:
1. Make your favorite foods at home. You can control your ingredients, like how much fat is used and how much salt is added. If you’re making Tex-Mex, use healthy fats like olive or canola oil, and add extra lime or cilantro to boost flavor without adding salt.
2. Eat small portions when eating out. I grew up with the mentality of “going all out” when eating at restaurants because we only ate out on special occasions. Unfortunately, most of us now eat out more than one time per month, so it’s important to at least cut your portions in half or share with a friend.
3. Check nutrition facts if available. Many restaurants have nutrition info available on their websites. You may check your favorite restaurants’ sites to see if the nutrition info is available and make sure your favorite dish does not have twice the fat, calories and sodium you thought they had.
Hopefully these tips will help you enjoy more of your favorite foods in a heart-smart way!
