by Ann E. Smith

Created on: May 28, 2009   Last Updated: June 14, 2009

Mexican food is delicious and one of your favorites. But is it good for your diet? Well, the answer to that question depends on several factors: the actual dish that you eat, the portion size and the frequency you indulge.

Do you find that going to a Mexican restaurant means losing control over you eating? If so, you are not alone. It starts with the chips, salsa and queso. You eat more than your fair share of these addictive items, and the next thing you know, you are diving into a huge burrito.

If you are trying to eat healthy or lose weight, you do not have to make this mistake. Nor do you have to give up Mexican food. There are some ways to enjoy it and still maintain your healthy eating habits.

Below are a few tips for ordering and eating healthy Mexican food.

- Practice portion control on the chips and salsa. If that is not possible, abstain.

When you dine at a Mexican place, the chips and salsa are usually placed on your table as soon as you sit down. Sometimes cheese dip accompanies them.

You need a tactic for the chips and salsa before you even arrive. If you absolutely cannot control yourself with this food item, then ask that they not be brought to the table.

Of course, that may not be an option when you are dining with others. In that case, if you know that you have no control once you have the first chip, then force yourself not to have any. Focus on the menu and conversation.

If you can practice a bit of portion control, ask for an appetizer plate. Put five or six chips on your plate and do not have more. This will prevent you from mindlessly overindulging from the basket. It's fine to add salsa to these chips but avoid the cheese dip. It's just not worth it.

- Avoid entrees that are fried.

One smart and easy rule of thumb when eating Mexican is to avoid the fried entrees like the plague. While that will rule out a few items like a chimichanga, you will be just fine. There are lots of other choices. If you order a taco salad, remember you will need to ask for it without the shell, as the shell is usually deep fried.

- Order your items a la carte.

Mexican restaurants offer all kinds of meal combinations such as three enchiladas, beans and rice. While they may look good and come at a reasonable price, it is not smart to order such meals! They are loaded with calories, containing far more than you need in one meal.

Stick to ordering your food a la carte. An example is to order one taco and a side salad. By ordering one or two items

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