Answer Fitness®: Practical Fitness Advice for Everyone

Mexican Cheese Dip Recipe | Healthy Recipes

Try this healthy low-fat version of Mexican Cheese Dip for an amazing high-protein, low-calorie snack. And it doubles as a healthy enchilada filling! 

Who doesn’t love a restaurant-style Mexican cheese dip? Cool, creamy and spicy all at the same time, there’s nothing quite like the combination of cheese dip, tortillas and a side of salsa to kick off Mexican fiesta.

Of course, most Mexican cheese dips - especially the restaurant variety — are loaded with sour cream and full-fat cheese. Not a great combination if you’re counting calories, trying to lose that gut or keep your summer abs nice and defined.

This version of Mexican Cheese Dip has been lightened up (it comes in at around 80 calories per 1/2 cup serving,) without losing one iota of flavor. Trust me, it’s that good.

One of the great things about Mexican food is that the predominance of highly-flavorful spices and ingredients like cumin, coriander, garlic, onion and chiles allows you to create healthy versions of most Mexican dishes without losing the flavors you’ve come to love.

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Low-Fat Homemade Vanilla-Orange Granola | Healthy Recipes from Answer Fitness®

Want an economical, low-fat and low-sugar homemade granola recipe? Try this homemade orange granola and be prepared to be blown away.

Oats are considered a fitness power food, and granola is a tasty way to get your daily oats. The problem is that most granola recipes are loaded with sugar. You could buy a low-fat or low-sugar prepackaged granola at the store, something like a Bear Naked Granola, but at nearly $6 a bag, it’s more economical to make your own.

This particular recipe uses freshly squeezed orange juice and a touch of honey to naturally sweeten the granola. There is no processed or brown sugar added. 

The sugar content is minimal in this recipe and it uses no oil, so the granola is about as pure and close-to-the-earth as it gets. The only fats are the healthy kinds from walnuts, almonds, pecans and flax meal. And the coconut, although high in saturated fat, is plentiful in medium- and short-chain fats, which the body burns more readily for energy.

Best of all, this particular granola recipe is wicked easy to make.  If you aren’t crazy about nuts, you can substitute dried fruit like raisins, dried cherries, blueberries, cranberries or even dried apple slices or banana chips. Add these after the granola has been cooked and cooled.

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Five Low Fat, Great Tasting, Mexican Food Toppings: Healthy Food of The Day

Try one or all of these tasty low-fat, low-calorie toppings on your next taco or burrito

So you think eating clean and healthy means you can’t enjoy Mexican food? Think again. These five toppings for Mexican food not only taste great, but they’re also excellent, nutrient-packed additions to any healthy diet.

Salsa

What’s a taco or burrito without a generous helping of salsa on top? The good news is this delicious mix of onions, tomato, garlic, chilies and lime juice is not only low in calories and fat, but also a nutritional powerhouse, combining four of the most antioxidant-rich foods available in one dish.  Salsa has actually surpassed catsup as America’s favorite condiment. In 2007, salsa outsold catsup by $175 million dollars according to research firm ACNielsen.

Fresh salsa or pico de gallo is your best bet since it tends to be lower in sodium than canned or bottled versions, and it adds a fresh twist to your Mexican food.  But in a pinch, the jarred versions will work just fine. Salsa is the ultimate convenience condiment, but remember you can also make your own salsa at home with just a few ingredients. It’s almost always superior to the pre-prepared store-bought salsa in taste and nutritional value.

Two tablespoons of ready-to-serve, store-bought salsa contains 9 calories, 0 fat, 0 cholesterol, 198 milligrams of sodium, 2.1 grams of carbs, 0.5 grams of protein and 98 mg of potassium. Fresh salsa or pico de gallo will generally have less sodium. (Source: Calorie King.com)

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Low Fat Ranch Dip | Healthy Recipes and Snacks

Try this low-fat, high-protein ranch dip recipe to help you get your daily vegetables

Eating your five servings of vegetables each day is easier when you have a great, low-fat dip recipe. This recipe is even better because it contains only two ingredients and can be prepared in less than 2 minutes start-to-finish.  The best part, however, is the taste.

Low Fat Ranch Dip 

Ingredients
1 16 oz container of Quark (or substitute low-fat Greek Yogurt or a similar strained yogurt product)
1 packet Hidden Valley® Ranch Dip Mix (or Fiesta Ranch Dip Mix)

Directions
1.  Mix the Hidden Valley® Ranch Dip Mix and quark or greek yogurt in a medium sized bowl. For best results, let chill for 1 hour prior to serving.  Serves eight.  Serving size is 1/4 cup of dip. Use as a dip for broccoli, carrots, celery sticks, and cauliflower.

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Mexican Food Fillings That Won’t Expand Your Waistline | Healthy Food of The Day

Making a healthy, low-fat, high-protein Mexican meal isn’t too difficult, provided you have the right ingredients.

For the wrapper or shell, consider the La Tortilla Factory Low-Carb Tortillas, or another brand of healthy tortillas or wraps. 

But what about the filling?

Generally, you’ll want to fill your taco or burrito with a low-fat protein source. Whether you are vegetarian, vegan or an omnivore, there are a number of healthy, great-tasting choices when it comes to fillings:

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La Tortilla Factory Low Carb Tortillas | Healthy Food of the Day

Think tortillas can’t be healthy? Think again. Check out these high-fiber, low-fat, and low-carb tortillas from La Tortilla Factory and let the wrapping start. 

Mexican food doesn’t have a great reputation as a “health food.” Mounds of cheese, heaps of sour cream, and deep fried tortillas may taste great, but aside from “cheat days,” they are usually off-limits to people who are trying to stay fit.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Believe it or not, it is possible to have your Mexican food and eat it too — provided you know how to make some smart substitutions for some of the more fat or calorie-laden ingredients that make up your traditional Mexican fare.  Over the next couple of Fitness Food posts, we’ll take a look at some ingredients you can use to create guilt-free Mexican meals that taste fantastic. Since the specific products may not always be available at your local grocery, I’ll try to provide some commonly-available subsitutions whenever possible.

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