Mexi”can” Without Gaining Weight

Last night we went out to “Molly’s la Casita” in Midtown with four friends. Like most decent Mexican joints, Molly’s is fun as hell but also a possible diet pitfall (a dark pit of diet doom complete with cheese and refried beans). It doesn’t help that the girlfriends I was with possess “gazelle” metabolisms. Boo!!

So, for those of us girls who need to go through life watching our enchilada intake, I’m here to say that yes, you can eat at a reputable Mexican restaurant (I say reputable because losing weight due to food poisoning doesn’t count) and still drop those pounds!

Some things to keep in mind:

Chunky Salsa is good for you
Use fresh chunky salsa in place of cheese dip, shredded cheese, sour cream and oily fajita base. It is high in fiber, low in calories and actually contributes to your recommended daily vegetable servings.

Beware of the things that crunch
If it crunches it’s probably fried and fried is not part of the clean eating vocab. If you must have chips, just have a couple and then order a dinner salad to munch on (top with salsa) while you wait for your main meal. Sometimes I’ll order a crudite plate (aka raw vegetables) and dip in the salsa as well. Tacos can be a trap unless you are a foodie and appreciate every bite. If you can’t moderate, may I suggest the fajitas (without the greasy base) and lots of fresh vegetables. This will provide protein too, which will keep you satisfied.

Watch Mindless Margarita Drinking
Okay, I am not going to tell you not to have a Margarita. Molly’s are the best! So if you do, stick to one. And if you decide to splurge on the Margarita, forgo the chips as well as cheese on your entrée. Now, although I love Margaritas, I don’t do well with sweet drinks, so I drink a Mandarin Grey Goose and soda with orange slices instead. It’s refreshing and low cal. If you are craving a margarita but don’t want the sugar, here is a recipe from Bethenny Frankel:

THE SKINNYGIRL MARGARITA:
Ingredients:
2 oz of Clear Premium Tequila (count 1, 2 while you pour, no need for measuring)
Tiny splash of Orange Liquor
Juice of 4 Fresh Lime Wedges

Preparation:
To serve on the rocks, combine all ingredients over a glass of ice and garnish with a lime wedge

If you try the Skinnygirl Margarita let me know what you think. I’m going to start doing a “healthy cocktail of the month” and the best way to perfect recipes is to try, try, try them. Think of it as a fun focus group. Oh, and if you are looking for a great Memphis Mexican hang out Molly’s is as good as they come. Plus the service is great. Here’s their website for menus, directions, etc.  Have a beautiful week and remember to keep counting.