Grilled Veggie Tacos

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and while I’ll be celebrating with a bunch of other bloggers at a camp out by Big Bear, perhaps the rest of you are looking for something to make at home. 

I know a lot of you are probably thinking bathing suit season right about now (me included), which isn’t something that normally goes hand in hand with mexican food. Never fear! I have a solution for you. I saw these grilled vegetable tacos in Cooking Light this month in an article titled “Tacos for under 200 Calories”

Now, I think this title may be a bit deceiving. Here’s the thing about articles like this, you have to read your own labels. In the article, they build these tacos on a 6 inch corn tortilla. I (and I think most American’s) generally think of “tacos” on a 10 inch flour tortilla which is roughly 150 calories by itself. My can of black beans says a serving size is 1/2 cup for 100 calories. The article calls for 1/4 cup (aka. 50 calories) Well, there’s your 200 calories right there before any veggies, salsa, or cheese.

Here’s the breakdown of what I added to the whole meal **Look up calorie amounts on Calorieking.com 

2 ears of corn: 59 calories each=118 calories

4 medium zucchini: 31 calories each=124 calories

2 ounces feta cheese: 70 calories/oz.=140 calories

4 T salsa: 10 calories in 2 tbl=20 calories

I can of black beans: 100 calories in 1/2 c.=350 calories

2 flour tortillas: 150 calories each=300 calories

Total calories in entire dish=1052

The Hubs and I split this, and ate all of it, so we can generally assume we each consumed 526 calories. Not terrible for a dinner whatsoever, and definitely full of nutrition, but remember, we each only ate one tortilla and ate the rest with a fork.

I just wanted to note all this because I think that a lot of people who struggle with losing weight don’t actually realize how many calories they are consuming. They make recipes like the one in Cooking Light, and think they are doing the right thing  (don’t get me wrong, its definitely better than fast food) but don’t realize how substitutions like flour for corn tortillas really affect the amount of calories being consumed. My point is READ THE LABELS! Know exactly what it is you’re eating and that number on the scale should go down.

With all that being said, have a healthy taco or a not so healthy taco this Cinco de Mayo. The choice is yours. Besides, the margaritas are the fun part anyway!