Mexican Food: Simpler, Healthier and Kid Friendly

Getting the kids ready for back-to-school is challenging enough. Transitioning from summer dinner staples such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and ice cream can be even harder. Contrary to popular opinion, Mexican cuisine doesn’t have to be oozed with cheese, covered in mole, or layered with guacamole. Not all Mexican food is created equal.

Flash-forward to your family dinner and erase the eye rolls from your kids by serving simple, easy Mexican food, that’s healthy. Kids love the subtler flavors of Mexican cuisine. Parents will earn an “A+” because these simple swaps and recipes will not only satisfy kids, but their adult company.

Family Friendly Guidelines 

The key to creating family favorites that are better for you is by concentrating on the elements in Mexican cuisine that kids already like, like salsas, sides and sauces with fresh ingredients. Focus on those dishes and just make a few tweaks:

Fruit contains natural sugar. Use the sugar in found in fruits and vegetables to make kids enjoy eating. Whip up this Quick Pineapple Salsa (omit the crushed red pepper flakes) or Watermelon Fire and Ice Salsa (omit peppers) as midafternoon snacks or fun treats. 

Use colors, shapes, textures and flavors to show kids that eating healthy taste just as good.

Use this rule, “If it comes out of a wrapper, avoid it, it’s probably been processed.” Stick to natural and whole foods, without even trying it’ll allow you to indulge in other items such as cheese or guacamole.

Family Friendly Recipes

Simple Kid Friendly Guacamole

2 ripe pitted avocado, juice of 1 lime, 1 teaspoon of salt. Mash and mix.

Make it Healthier: Substitute 1 avocado for 1 cup of thawed and mashed peas. Keeps the flavors, makes it lighter.

Simple Pico de Gallo: 3 large seeded and chopped tomatoes, 1 chopped onion, 1 bunch chopped cilantro, juice of 1 lime, 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 seeded, deveined and chopped jalapeno (optional), 2 gloves minced garlic (optional). Combine all ingredients and enjoy.

Make it Healthier: Omit the olive oil. Allow the pico de gallo to marinate for about an hour, the juices will create their own sauce.

Next smart swaps and delicious desserts…

Smart Swaps

Making healthy choices is about realizing what you can indulge in, and substituting healthier options in the food that might not be the best for you.

For example, an item like Greek yogurt makes a healthy swap for sour cream. Thawed and mashed peas make a great swap for avocado (or half an avocado) in a guacamole recipe. And above all, everything in moderation, the goal is to teach kids how to enjoy food, keep it healthy and explore new flavors.

Here are some classics, with a healthier twist.

Quesadilla: Substitute whole wheat for flour tortillas. Corn tortillas are a gluten free option. Keep cheese light and load up with veggies, such as sautéed spinach, tomatoes or mushrooms. Check out these Healthy Quesadillas.

Pizza: Go Mexican with you pizza! Only lightly cheese your pizza and top with fresh vegetables and bold flavors. Follow the basics of Celebrity Chef Mellissa D’Arabian’s Tomato Salad Topped Grilled Pizza. Spice it up with Mexican flair by adding slices of avocado and swapping cheddar or pepper jack cheese for mozzarella.

Tacos: Simply swap fried hard tacos for soft tacos and you’re already saving calories and fat. Take it even farther by stuffing your tacos with healthy vegetables and lean proteins. Make a “taco bar” of healthy staples, so kids can choose what they like. Lettuce, tomato, low fat cheeses such as cheddar, scallions, mushrooms, roasted and pulled chicken, scrambled eggs, Greek yogurt and avocados.

Burritos: The same principle of the taco applies. Check out vegetable stuffed wraps fit for a king, including Lime Cilantro Black Bean Burritos, Chili Sweet Potato Burritos and Pumpkin Cotija Burritos.

Don’t Forget Dessert

Kids love dessert and after eating healthy at dinner, there’s not reason why they can’t indulge in a swee treat. Keep desserts light by concentrating on sugars found in fruit. Try: Ginger Peach Paletas, frozen pops that combine ginger and peach; Chocolate Black Bean Cake, made with mashed beans; and Strawberry Shaved Ice, a fast and healthy frozen treat low in calories.