Historically, Mexican food is one of the most beloved cuisines among American consumers across the US and has spread to other countries as well. Of course, depending on the amount of “spiciness” or fat in a particular Mexican dish, it can cause a problem for some of the more delicate digestive tracts. And that brings us to the point of healthy eating and Mexican food.
The problem with most Mexican foods north of the border is that they contain too much added fat and calories. Some restaurants have turned their recipes into oversized monster meals with enough food to feed an entire family in each single serving. If you look back in the history of Mexican food and travel to different regions of Mexico, you will find that Mexican food, cooked in most local restaurants and houses, they are actually prepared with healthy ingredients.
Most of the Mexican food that is made in Mexico is rich in fresh vegetables. They are very healthy because these vegetables and other fresh ingredients add vitamins and protein to the food. It is also flavored with real spices which can also be healthy as some spices contain antioxidants. Real spices give you real flavor that is natural and therefore better for you.
Now it is possible to eat that healthy Mexican food here in the United States if you know how to prepare the dishes yourself and use healthy ingredients. There may be a store near you where fresh ingredients, which are rich in vitamins and devoid of the elements that are detrimental to good health, can be easily found and purchased.
Some “American” versions of true Mexican dishes often bear little resemblance in appearance or flavor to the dish they represent. The problem is that the American dining public has grown accustomed to these “Americanized” recipes and large portion sizes with high-fat ingredients. As Americans, we’ve come to think of fat, or “lard,” as adding extra flavor. We, the consumers, are to blame for that. Restaurants only give us what we order the most and seem to enjoy.
If you examine the history of Mexican food, you’ll find that its recipes have been passed down from family to family for generations. Individual families have come up with the best combinations of fresh spices and other fresh ingredients to make the food taste great. What they have found is that freshly prepared food, using freshly harvested items, produces a tasty and healthy meal.
These recipes with all natural and fresh ingredients, never frozen, have graced the tables of Mexicans for centuries. It is a food that can be served as a meal on weekdays or on a special occasion. Secret family recipes or popular dishes are often requested at graduations, weddings, or anniversaries. Even when we celebrate, we should strive to serve food that is healthy and “very delicious.” We must delight in the healthy options that Mexicans have been serving for centuries and adapt them to our ways of life. It is true that some recipes can take several hours or days to prepare. But many have adapted to our “fast food” mentality and have been revised to be able to whip up a great, healthy Mexican meal in less than an hour.