5 Healthy Mexican Foods for Cinco de Mayo

| WRITTEN BY: Patricia Bannan, MS, RDN
healthy mexican food tacos with salsa

Here are five foods to enjoy this Cinco de Mayo, with healthy Mexican food recipes to try as well!

You don’t have to be Mexican to enjoy the fiesta of flavors that go along with Cinco de Mayo. Americanized Mexican food can be a diet disaster – think fried tortilla chips, fast food burritos, and let’s not forget frozen Margaritas. But many traditional Mexican staples are good for your health, and your waistline. Next time you’re enjoying Mexican cuisine, try these five healthy and flavorful Mexican staples.

This article originally appeared on Fox News Health.

5 Healthy Mexican Foods

These foods are in many common Mexican dishes, and are healthy additions that provide many nutrients! Keep reading for more about each one.

  1. Grilled corn
  2. Fresh Vegetables
  3. Avocados
  4. Beans
  5. Cilantro

1. Grilled Corn

Sweet, savory, spicy, and succulent – piping hot corn on the cob is a Mexican staple. One ear of sweet corn has the same number of calories as an apple, and it offers numerous nutrient benefits. Sweet corn is a good source of fiber and an excellent source two phytonutrients (lutein and zeaxanthin) that promote eye health.

Plus, corn has a high antioxidant activity that increases when the corn is cooked. Antioxidants help protect the body from chronic diseases likes heart disease and cancer.

Healthier Option for Grilled Mexican Corn

What you put on the corn can make or break your healthy intensions. While grilled Mexican corn is often smothered in mayonnaise and cheese, you can easily lighten it up by focusing more on the fresh seasonings. Grill corn and season with light butter mixed with chopped cilantro, chili powder, and fresh lime juice. It’s delicious and you’ll really taste the flavor of the sweet grilled corn caramelized to perfection.

2. Fresh Vegetables

In addition to corn, tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, chilies and onions are some the most popular vegetables used in Mexican cuisine. They’re low in calories (1 medium tomato has just 22 calories) and loaded with good nutrition.

Packed with immune boosting vitamin C, these vegetables are also rich in antioxidants and flavonoids that:

  • promote heart health
  • reduce inflammation
  • may help reduce the risk of cancer

These vegetables are often grilled, which gives their natural flavor a kick. Whatever Mexican dish you are craving, load up with extra vegetables.

3. Avocados

From tacos, to sandwiches, to salads – avocado is the produce darling that will brighten up any dish. Although avocados are high in fat, it’s monounsaturated fat, which when eaten in moderation (1/5 of a medium avocado is a serving size), can help lower bad “LDL” cholesterol.

Avocados offer nearly 20 vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients in every serving, including:

  • potassium (to help control blood pressure)
  • lutein (for eye health)
  • B vitamins (to help fight off disease and infection)

The healthy fats and fiber they contain – along with their creamy and satisfying texture – will help you feel fuller, longer. In one study, people who added one-half of a fresh avocado to their lunch felt more satisfied, and had less desire to eat three hours later.

Quick & Easy Guacamole

To make a quick and healthy guacamole, simply mix ripe avocados with lime juice, chopped vegetables, cilantro, garlic and seasonings. A ¼-cup serving of guacamole contains about 100 calories.

4. Beans

The Mexican staple, beans, offer plant-based protein that’s low in fat, high in protein, and rich in fiber for staying power. Refried beans can be made healthy, but they are often prepared with lard and cheese blends in Mexican restaurants. Instead, you’re better off going for the black beans or pinto beans.

Research shows just a ½ cup of beans daily might lower cholesterol. One reason for this is that the soluble fiber in beans helps bind cholesterol and stops it from being absorbed in the gut.

For a healthy ticker and thinner waistline, swap beans for meat in many of your favorite Mexican dishes. If you don’t want to cut meat out entirely, cut the amount of meat in half and add beans. You will improve the nutritional value of your meal and cut down on your food costs as well.

5. Cilantro

One of the most wonderful things about traditional Mexican cuisine is the use of fresh herbs, like cilantro, with health-promoting properties. These deep-green leaves are rich in antioxidants (beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxantin). In fact, because of its high antioxidant content, the oil in cilantro added to foods has been shown to inhibit oxidation and help prevent spoilage.

Research shows that increasing consumption of plant foods like cilantro may help:

  • decrease the risk of diabetes and heart disease
  • promote healthy skin and hair
  • have an antibacterial effect

Cilantro a tasty and eye-catching garnish and it’s a wonderful flavor enhancer to help cut down on fat in dressings, sauces, and soups.

Healthy Mexican Food Recipes

Looking for simple ways to incorporate these foods in recipe for Cinco de Mayo? Here are some healthy Mexican food ideas:

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