Is Mexican Food Healthy? 8 Tips To Navigating The Menu!

Your friends are bugging you to viva fiesta at the local taco joint; the problem is you're bound to a diet. You know restaurant meals are typically high in calories, sugar and fat. But, you still hate to miss a fun night.

Lucky for you, you can maintain your progress if you order carefully. Learn to pick through the menu for healthy choices. Food choice is essential to reach your long-term goals, unless you'd rather stay home every night, but who wants to do that?

Follow these tips to healthy Mexican dining:

Mmmmm - that basket of warm chips calls to you. Can't resist? Get rid of it. If the basket is already on the table when you sit down, ask your server to take it off the table. If it's not already at your table, ask your server not to bring that big bowl of carbs, fat and salt.

This combo might seem harmless enough, but chips and salsa contain too much fat and too many calories to fit into any good diet plan. Before you know it, you may munch the entire basket before the food you ordered arrives.

Save yourself the temptation and just say 'no.'

Hard shells are deep fried and contain added fat and extra calories that could push you over your limit.

Choose smaller, whole wheat soft shells: these are better options for your carb source.

It might be hard to say 'adios' to such crunchy goodness, but it's totally worth it.

If you choose to dig into a bean dish (which can be a healthy option) go for pinto beans rather than refried beans. Pinto beans are an excellent source of protein, complex carbohydrates and much-needed iron.

Keep your serving size under control, and you will keep your calorie count where it needs to be.

Although the toppings are sometimes the best part of the burrito, spooning on globs of fatty sour cream and guacamole heaps the calories.

Although guacamole is made from avocado, and is technically a source of healthy fat, calories are still calories and folks tend to heap the toppings on, so go easy.

Your entrée will likely have more calories than what you should be taking in, so limiting the extras is a wise move. Instead of sour cream and guacamole, top your meal with plenty of diced vegetables and/or with salsa.

Salsa is a lower-calorie alternative that will also provide important antioxidants and vitamins.

It's icy, salty, full of tequila and delicious. It's also a diet wrecker. Adding a margarita to your meal will definitely put you over your calorie limits, so think carefully before ordering one.

When you dine out, you can't always control the number of calories that come in a beverage, so it's generally best to just stick with water. (Hardly an alternative to a margarita, I know.) But remember the big picture: Stick to your plan.

You can probably count on getting protein in your meal, but not all protein choices are created equal. Chicken is usually a better option than beef because it is leaner and less processed. Fish is also a good choice as long as it hasn't been breaded or deep fried.

Before you order, ask your server about how the meat is prepared, and choose the best option for your diet plan.

Some menu choices at Mexican restaurants come with the meal components separated.

Build-your-own taco, burrito or fajita is a great option because you can control what goes into the meal.

Depending on your nutritional needs, you can add or subtract whatever you wish.

They have salad! ¡Ensalada! Finding that option on the menu might make you leap with joy. However, "salad" is not synonymous with "healthy." You're better off having one or two soft tacos.

The portion size will be much better and easier to fit in a limited-calorie diet.

So the next time you and your friends are down for some spicy Mexican food, remember these tips. Even though you're on a diet, you can still enjoy the social aspect of eating out.

It just takes a little extra effort to make sure you get what you need, not what you don't!