Tips on How to Shave Calories Off of a Mexican Restaurant Soft Taco

Perhaps one of the most popular Mexican restaurant entree's is the soft taco, overflowing with cheese, ground beef, seasonings, olives, lettuce, sour cream and whatever else you may fancy. However, that tantalizing tortilla can be an irresistible danger for those trying to watch their weight. Add the likelihood that your plate will be characterized by typical restaurant super-sized portions and tell-tale grease stains, and you can kiss that caloric limit goodbye. The great news is, there are steps you can take to minimize the damage if you simply can't resist the gooey goodness. Before you give in to temptation, take a look at the following tips on how to shave calories off of a Mexican restaurant soft taco without compromising flavor.

Tip #1: Replace shredded cheese with a teaspoon of cheese dip. That's right, you don't have to forgo cheese altogether. Keep in mind that just 1/4 of a cup of shredded cheese can pack one hundred calories, however. For the same flavorful addition, you can replace shredded cheese in your soft taco with a teaspoon of the cheese dip that you'll likely already have ordered to accompany the complimentary chips that are usually offered at Mexican venues. Drizzle cheese dip slowly and evenly, making sure to cover the entire taco.

Tip #2: Trim off the excess tortilla. Most restaurant soft tacos come folded over and filled about 3/4 full. Instead of eating the bland remnants of the tortilla that aren't filled, cut them away and discard them. You won't have sacrificed a bit of flavor, and you'll hardly notice those lost few bites.

Tip #3: Load up on the salsa. You can lose the cheese altogether and replace it with fresh, low calorie salsa or simply reduce the cheese and blend the two for added flavor. Made almost entirely of healthy, robust tomatoes, your soft taco will become instantly more festive without much effort and without the added calories. This is a great trick if you order your taco without any cheese at all, as it adds bulks and extra bites without making you pay for it at the waistline.

Tip #4: Add extra lettuce. Even if you aren't trimming back a bit of cheese, olives, or other fattening items, adding lettuce to your soft taco may keep you from eating more than one or two. Instead of ordering that plate of three tacos that seems to appear on every Mexican restaurant's menu, order two and ask for twice the lettuce. You'll have added substantially more food without adding many calories. If you have more lettuce than you need for each soft taco, consider splashing a low calorie "dressing" of salsa on the rest and dig in.

Tip #5: Ask for half of your usual serving of olives. If your soft taco comes packed with olives, be aware that these tiny additions are packed with fat grams. The good news is that they are filled with healthy "good" fat, meaning that you can still enjoy them in moderation. Savor them rather than devouring them by asking for just a few less than usual.

Tip #6: Replace ground beef with grilled steak. If you're a beef lover and can't bear the thought of "ruining" your beloved soft tacos with chicken, step up the flavor factor and replace that deep fried, fatty ground beef with grilled, seasoned steak. Do be sure that the steak is not fried by requesting a healthier cooking method when you order.

Tip #7: Request lean ground beef. Ok, if you just can't part with ground beef, request that lean beef be used instead. The flavor difference will be undetectable. Most Mexican restaurants offer a leaner version of their guests' favorite meats, even if that simply means that they'll trim away the excess fat themselves before serving the dish.

Tip #8: Request that less cooking oil be used. If you're bent on filling your soft taco with fried meat, ask that your order be prepared with half of the normal cooking oil used. If nothing else, specifying that your meal be "less greasy" when it arrives on your plate may be enough.

Tip #9: Squeeze out excess oil at the table with a paper towel or napkin. You can only get with this at informal venues, but if the location and atmosphere allow, go right ahead.

Tip #10: Ask for a plain soft taco with extras on the side. Sour cream, cheese, olives, etc., are diet killers, and most Mexican restaurants will pile them on your dish to add flavor. You'll save yourself some serious calories if you have to add them to your plate yourself. The act of scooping these extras onto your taco one by one will give you a bit of perspective. When you have allotted the proper amount, ask your waiter to remove the condiment dishes from the table.

Remember, you don't have to give up your favorite foods when dieting, even if you love to frequent Mexican restaurants. A few quick adjustments, and you may even enjoy a more flavorful dish when calories are creatively reduced.