The New Year is right around the corner and that means people will be making New Year’s Resolutions to better themselves. For many, these resolutions include eating healthier. Here at Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts, we always strive to provide the best and freshest ingredients in our dishes so that our guests enjoy healthy, but delicious meals.

If you’re not visiting Zoetry Paraiso de La Bonita or Zoetry Casa del Mar this year, but are interested in learning how to make some of our favorite Mexican dishes a little healthier at home, we have some great tips for you!

Below are a few ways that you can still enjoy your favorite meals, but feel a little less guilty about it.

Add Spice, Do Away with Salt: Mexican food can often be high in sodium, but can easily be made healthier by using spices in your kitchen rather than prepacked seasoning. Popular Mexican seasonings include cumin, cayenne pepper, chili powder, oregano, pepper, cilantro and lime juice. Need an extra kick? Add hot green peppers to your dishes, they’re a great metabolism booster and add amazing flavor.

Opt for a Fish Taco: Fish tacos can be much healthier than beef tacos and fish is a terrific source of healthy omega 3 acids. You can use almost any fish in this dish, just be sure to boil or poach it to avoid unneeded calories. If you can’t stomach fish, try a lean chicken or ground turkey.

Add Veggies and Lots of Them: Believe it or not, vegetarian dishes are actually very authentic in the Mexican culture. By piling on veggies, you won’t even realize you’re missing the meat! Start with corn, shredded lettuce and chopped onions then add some yellow squash or zucchini and sweet red or green peppers. Finish with fresh tomatoes for extra taste and color, and you’ll have quite the delicious meal.

Use Whole Wheat Tortillas: A staple of Mexican food is the tortilla. However, these can often add calories to many dishes. As an alternative, use a whole wheat tortilla for your burritos, quesadillas or enchiladas.

Go Easy on the Toppings: It’s natural to want to add guacamole and sour cream to your dishes. And if you do, be frugal with it. Use just a tiny bit of guacamole and opt for low fat sour cream. Also, choose low fat white cheeses as opposed to yellow cheeses.