Taco tuesday is probably one of my favorite days of the week. I. Love. Tacos. And when you’re cooking for a group, there are few things more convenient than a taco bar. However, it can get a liiiiittle unhealthy at times, so here a few ways to keep them on the healthier side when you make them yourself.
1. Grill your meat (I’m a big fan of carne asada or citrus marinated chicken). Sorry – baja style fried fish tacos are out, but feel free to grill up your pescados
2. Cook up some fresh frijoles! I understand that refried beans are WAY easier to make, but I recommend making them fresh. If you must do them out of the can though (because fresh beans take a while), make sure they’re the vegetarian/lard free variety.
3. Make your own salsa or guacamole! Fresh fruits, veggies and herbs not only taste better, but don’t include tons of sugar and extra preservatives and such.
4. Use lettuce instead of tortillas. Eat more leafy greens, reduce carbs, and add a really nice contrast in texture.
5. If you’re all about the crunchy tortilla shells, oven bake them instead of fry them (just use an olive oil spray to get it to hold shape).
6. Sautee mushrooms and substitute them for meat.
7. Skip the cheese – I KNOW, I know, it’s my favorite part, too, but spare yourself for the sake of your cholesterol. If you’re adventurous, try vegan cheese instead! It’s significantly lower in fat and cholesterol, and in all my experiences with vegan cheese, I can’t tell the difference. Granted, I’m not eating it by the slice, but it makes a great topping.
8. Substitute ground turkey, veggie crumbles or cooked shrimp for ground beef.
Super simple, super tasty, and there are a lot of ways to get everyone to help!
Enjoy!
