If you ask the majority of Americans on when the last time they ate Mexican food was, usually it is within the last week. Mexican foods have become very popular in the United States. The problem is that the Mexican foods in America are not the same as they are in Mexico. Americans have added super fat and super sized the meals. If you go down to Mexico, you may not even find the same dishes because the dishes were created in America. Authentic Mexican food is rich in fresh vegetables, protein, and nutritious vitamins and spices.

Perhaps the most famous Mexican food eatery outside Mexico is Taco Bell. This is a popular fast food chain, serving burritos, quesadillas, and tacos to Mexican food lovers all over America. A lot of Americans who have not visited Mexico or an authentic Mexican food restaurant might be unaware that in Mexico you won’t get a large platter of tortilla chips with your meal and you won’t get a nutritionally depleted meal which is made in bulk with cheap ingredients, frozen and reheated in the microwave. American style Mexican food is high in calories, sodium, and fat and low in fresh vegetables.

Mexican Food Healthy Ideas for Today’s Diet

Which Ingredients are used in Healthy Mexican Food?

Authentic Mexican dishes usually contain fewer calories and less fat. This does not mean you should not visit fast food restaurants or avoid Mexican food altogether but you should watch what you are eating. This means adding healthy ingredients to the Mexican dishes you prepare yourself. Tomatoes, for example, contain lycopene, which fights cancer, and also contain plenty of vitamins.

Beans are high in protein and fiber and can be added whole to recipes rather than refried because this cuts back on fat. Corn is a common Mexican food addition, which can maintain a healthy heart. It contains fiber and is high in vitamin content. Adding such ingredients as corn, whole beans and tomatoes to your Mexican recipes can promote health and cut back on fat while maintaining a great Mexican flavor in your dishes.

You may be wondering if people in Mexico eat healthier foods. In America we have the choice to go to health food stores where we can find organic foods and foods not as fattening. The only drawback is that not everyone can afford to buy these foods whenever they grocery shop. In Mexico, healthier choices are available. Each year the health food market in Mexico makes over $500 Million.

Five percent of the population of Mexico regularly consumes health foods. They range from twenty to fifty in age and normally live in metropolitan areas where health food shops are located. Even Mexicans with less money eat more healthily than most Americans. Traditional Mexican recipes are healthier than a lot of American recipes and Americanized Mexican dishes. In addition, Mexicans use different cooking methods and do not use fattening cooking methods such as deep-frying as often as Americans do.

Mexican Food Pyramid Food for a Healthy You

You are probably wondering again, is Mexican food healthy for me. Authentic Mexican dishes are, because they carry many vitamins and are generally low in fat. America has fattened up the Mexican dishes making them not a good choice. If you want to go out to eat, try avoiding the major Mexican food chain restaurants. Find a restaurant that serves authentic dishes. It is healthier and will taste even better knowing you are giving your body good foods.

Children in Mexico have a huge selection of candies to choose amongst here are just a few. The candies are abundant. Anyone is sure to please his or her sweet tooth. The candies are not just sweet, though. Many of the candies pack heat! That is right, chili. Mexican’s like to include chili in many of their foods, so it is natural to find candy with it. There are also chocolate candies, gummy candies, and chewing gum. It is obvious that Mexicans have different preferences when it comes to candy. The hotter, the better it seems!

Something quite new in Mexico, which is popular right now, is called Salsaghetti. This is a packet of watermelon straws that resemble pasta. They are spicy and you also get a pouring sauce, which is called gusano tamarind. Tamarind is an Asian fruit which is also widely grown in Mexico and gusano means worm! A lot of Mexican candy contains tamarind. Salsaghetti looks a lot like a meal but you do not get candy meatballs with it.

Popsicles in Mexico are different to what you might find in other places. A lot of Mexican popsicles are spicy hot, even jalapeo hot. American kids might like cinnamon candies but Mexican kids like chili powder on the outside of their candies. The inside can be different flavors and some examples include chili, mango, watermelon, cherry, strawberry, and pineapple.

Mexico gave the world chocolate several centuries ago, when the Aztecs shared the recipe with the Spanish. Does this mean that Mexicans eat a lot of chocolate? Actually no, they do not. They prefer to use it in drinks or in traditional Mexican recipes such as mole poblano, which is a sauce containing chili, chocolate, onion, spices and garlic amongst other ingredients. You might find some sweet chocolate treats in Mexico, such as a chocolate patty candy with ground almonds, sugar and cinnamon, but Mexicans rarely purchase chocolate candies.

Dulce de leche is a much-loved Mexican treat. Meaning “milk candy,” dulce de leche is like caramel in taste and appearance. It can be eaten alone or as a topping for dishes such as Mexican ice cream or grilled bananas. If you want to know how to make dulce de leche, it is very straightforward. You need to boil sweetened condensed milk for several hours or make your own with sugar and goat’s milk or cow’s milk. It keeps well in the refrigerator but you will need to heat it up again so you can pour it. Once you have made some, you might want to use it in dulce de leche flan, dulce de leche cheesecake or in a dulce de leche sauce recipe. Dulce de leche cake is very popular with Mexicans.

Other countries are getting familiar with dulce de leche recipes too. Starbucks has a dulce de leche flavored latte, which the Americans like. Dulce de leche ice cream is sold across grocery stores in the southwest of the United States.

If you want to sample some Mexican candy, you can have a look at your local Mexican grocery store. If you do not have a Mexican grocer near you, you can shop online for some Mexican goodies. If you are not keen on chili, you can also try caramel and chocolate candies. Why not have a try? You might find you love the new flavor sensation.

Just imagine how much money we would have at the end of each month if we did not need to budget for groceries. However, we all need to eat so we can’t get rid of that expense. There are many things we can do however, to cut costs every time we go to the grocery store.

Here are just a few tips to help you get started on your grocery shopping budget.

1) Plan your meals in advance: Create a weekly or even monthly menu. Make a list and check your fridge and pantry for items that you already have. This will cut down on unnecessary purchases.

2) Keep your pantry organized: Organizing your pantry and checking expiration dates will help determine what you have and what you need to put on your shopping list.

3) Make a list and stick to it: When grocery shopping it is really easy to get sidetracked. Try shopping alone if possible and avoid going to the grocery store when you are hungry.

4) Use coupons: Combining grocery coupons with weekly sales can really help you save money. Swap coupons with family or friends to save even more money.

5) Go meatless once in a while: One or two meatless dishes a week not only saves money, but is a healthy way to get in more vegetables.

6) Buy in bulk: Buy your meats and chicken in large variety packs and divide them into one meal portions. Freeze and use them as you need them.

7) Use up your leftovers: When cooking dinner try to plan ahead how you can be creative with the leftovers the next day.

Cook for a month: Set aside one Saturday a month and prepare all your meals for that month. You can cook them or just prepare them for cooking. Package them in freezer bags or air tight containers and store them in the freezer. This will save you money as well as much of your valuable time.

By using some or all of these tips you will definitely see a big difference in your budget each month. Start putting the money you save in the bank or use it to pay off your other debt.