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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts


Do You Know Your Mexican Food?

Chris Woolston
CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE

Through the innovative use of cheese, lard, and deep-fat fryers, Mexican restaurant chains and fast-food joints have accomplished the unthinkable: They turned a healthy cuisine based on corn, rice, and beans into a nutritional disaster. According to an analysis by the Center For Science in the Public Interest a single chile relleno platter can pack as much saturated fat as 27 slices of bacon. But whether you're cooking at home or dining out, you can still enjoy the flavors of Mexico without busting your fat budget. Take this short quiz to see how much you know about healthy, low-fat Mexican dining.


1. At Mexican restaurants, a side order of refried beans is usually a healthy choice. True or false?

True
False

2. Which of these Taco Bell items has the least amount of saturated fat?

a. Taco salad
b. Cheese quesadilla
c. Steak burrito supreme
d. Mexican pizza

3. Flour tortillas are basically healthy -- unless they're soaked in oil. What restaurant dish is most likely to have this hidden source of fat?

a. Quesadilla
b. Soft taco
c. Enchilada
d. Fajitas

4. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which of these popular Mexican entrees earns high marks for nutrition?

a. Chicken fajitas
b. Chicken crispy tacos
c. Chicken nachos
d. Chicken chimichanga

5. When cooking Mexican food at home, which of these ingredients should you strictly avoid?

a. Cheese
b. Sour cream
c. Avocados
d. Ground beef
None of the above



First published Apr 28, 1999


Last updated Feb 14, 2007


Copyright © 1999 Consumer Health Interactive, a CVS Caremark company