Authentic Mexican Food

In the states that border Mexico, from California to Texas, authentic Mexican restaurants have long been a staple of the dining industry. The food in these establishments is often seasoned and prepared using the same recipes that cooks in Mexico have used for centuries. But as satisfied as we might feel after gorging from a tasty combo plate, there is sometimes a lingering feeling that the Mexican food we just ate wasn’t the healthiest food in the world.

In the 1990s, people began to pay more attention to food and how it affects our health. Mexican fast-food chains were using canned vegetables, frozen beef and chicken and factory-produced tortillas for their meals. The entrees were loaded with unsaturated fats. For example, a Grilled-Steak Stuft Burrito at one a well-known fast food chain, for instance, has 980 calories in the entree alone.

Several crafty entrepreneurs recognized that the word fresh was a key ingredient to authentic Mexican food. When new restaurant chains burst onto the restaurant scene with “fresh Mexican food” as their core business, the game changed forever.

Fresh food is now a key component necessary for success in the Mexican food industry. Because fresh goes hand-in-hand with healthy, the emphasis on serving healthy as well as tasty Mexican food has never been greater.

In addition to paying close attention to the quality of ingredients, check out these four health benefits found in your next authentic Mexican meal.

Heath Benefits of Mexican Food

1. Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber helps food to move through your digestive tract more quickly for healthy elimination and helps lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. Whole beans, especially black and pinto, are rich in fiber and are more nutritious than refried beans. A 1/2-cup of whole beans will supply up to 7 grams of fiber and a healthy amount of protein.

2. Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamins and Minerals are essential for maintaining a healthy body. Fresh tomatoes and onions, key ingredients in salsa, are rich in vitamin C. Avocados, the mail ingredient of guacamole, are an excellent source of heart-healthy unsaturated fats and pantothenic acid, vitamin K, copper, folate, vitamin B6, potassium and vitamin E.