by Kendra Adachi

Created on: May 22, 2009

If Jennifer Aniston has taught us anything, it's that a person can eat Mexican food and still have her thighs not rub together when she walks. It's a tough line to toe since most Mexican food involves copious amounts of cheese and varying elements of fried flour and lard. Not so great on anyone's thighs. But there are some easy ways to enjoy the flavors of Mexican food without reaping the caloric consequences.

1. When you sit down for your Mexican feast, load up on salsa but not so much on chips. One ounce of tortilla chips (about twelve) will run you 140 calories and about seven grams of fat, not to mention the salt that's required for any fried item. Salsa and pico de gallo on the other hand are excellent for you, made with vegetables, very little fat if any, low in calories, and full of vitamins and antioxidants. And since most salsas are not cooked, you don't lose any of the nutritional content from heating or processing. So change your chip to salsa ratio, and you'll save a good amount of calories on the front end of your meal.

2. Exchange refried beans for sauteed peppers and onions. Refried beans are nothing more than deliciously healthy beans (black and/or pinto) cooked again with lard. Yes, lard. And then you have that mysterious "cheese" substance that covers the whole heap. While the beans certainly taste delicious, your heart (not to mention those thighs) will not enjoy such an indulgence. Instead get a side salad or sauteed vegetables as a side. Sure, the vegetables are cooked in oil, but most sautees don't require enough time to soak up too much of that fat.

3. Choose chicken or fish over beef or pork. Less fat, still good flavor... easy choice. Remember that eating more protein with your meal with fill you up faster, and lean choices are even better.

4. Simply look at the descriptions of the various dishes critically. If things are baked in a layer of cheese, steer clear. If something is grilled or described as or like a fajita, jump on board. Minimal fat, no cheese, and you can decide how much of the fat (sour cream, guacamole) you add to the dish. Lots of vegetables? Go for it. A lot more rice and tortilla? Keep looking. Most of us know what's good and what's not, so just make reasonably good choices.

5. Eat slowly. Food is supposed to be savored, company to be enjoyed. The slower you eat (Mexican or not), the more time you give your stomach to signal your brain that you don't need anymore food. And unless you're not a fan of your dinner companions, taking your time is great on lots of levels.

The big thing to remember? Don't stop eating Mexican food or anything else you think you have to give up to lose weight. It's way too good. Just make smart decisions, don't be afraid to ask questions of your servers, take your time eating, and if anything, don't beat yourself up for eating something you love. Food brings too much joy to give up.

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