Tacos are pretty delicious. There is no denying that. Unfortunately, they are not always the healthiest options for us. Depending on what you get your taco made out of, it could not be great for your health. However, with just a few simple tweaks, you could make your taco better for you, while also remaining delicious. Below are just a couple of suggestions on how you can make your taco healthier. Feel free to use one, two, or all of them the next time you are making a taco.
Meat Options – One of the first things to look at is the meat you are putting on the taco. While most tacos come with ground beef, this is not always the healthiest option. Instead, try getting lean ground beef to cut out some of the calories. Or, you can swap out the beef and go with either chicken or turkey instead. Both are better for you, and still make your taco taste great.
Taco Shells – If you are getting some commercially-prepared taco shells, there is a good chance that they were made by being fried in high fat oil, then covered with salt. A better option is to replace these shells with baked corn tortillas. These tortillas have much less fat in them, and will give your taco a different, but still good, taste.
Toppings – When it comes to toppings, it really comes down to what you like. You will have to decide which toppings you want, and weigh that against which ones are healthy for you. For example, lettuce has basically no calories in it, so they are fine to have on tacos. Sour cream on the other hand is a bit more fattening, so you may want to avoid it. Try mixing different vegetables in like tomatoes and onions to not only get a different taste, but also different vitamins and minerals into your body. Lastly, don’t forget about the cheese. Some cheeses are very fattening, so if you want to use those, only put on a little bit.
Condiments – Outside of the taco, you have to think about what you are dipping it in. If you are going with salsa, try to avoid store-bought, as it can be packed with sodium. Making your own salsa not only tastes better, but is better for you as well. Also try to use low fat sour cream when making your taco, as this is much better for you.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to make a taco more healthy. All it takes is a little thought as to what you are going to have on it, and which options are going to be the best for you. Remember that you don’t have to sacrifice flavor in order to have a good taco. Experiment with different types of toppings and seasonings, then decide which gives you the best balance of nutrition and taste. Enjoy!