Eating Healthy at Three Amigos

This blog is part of a series that reviews the healthy (and not so healthy) meal choices found at different restaurants in and around Stoneham. 

Eating out is a pleasure that many of us enjoy weekly. Yet with portion sizes sometimes triple what they should be, and with exorbitant amounts of fat, sugar and salt added to make a dish taste good, restaurant meals don't always fit into a healthy lifestyle.

The good news is that no matter where you go, there will always be a healthy choice.

Here are some tips to help you eat healthy around Stoneham.

Restaurant: Three Amigos

My first impression of this Mexican restaurant was, in a word: unpretentious. With more of a cafeteria-style seating area and some simple decorations on the walls, first-time visitors may be a bit apprehensive.

But once the meal comes, you know that Three Amigos is determined to focus on quality food. Unlike most Tex-Mex places around, this Mexican restaurant doesn't necessarily go for volume, but rather straightforward, authentic food.

Choices, choices

Tacos and Tostadas: Tacos are actually one of the best choices you can get at a Mexican eatery because of the smaller serving size, which saves mucho calories. In fact, fish tacos may be the healthiest choice on the menu.

To make it great: Since the tacos are fried, ask for soft tacos in place of the hard shells and hold the sour cream.

Burritos: I love that the burritos here are filled with primarily meat, veggies, and a bit of sour cream and cheese. Rice and beans are given to you on the side, unlike in Tex-Mex (read: Americanized) burritos in which rice and beans are used as cheap filler. Having them on the side actually saves you upwards of 500 calories per burrito.

To make it great: Ask for it without sour cream. Skip the rice and beans, or eat only a small portion. Also, stick with the regular burritos and pass up the supreme.

Combination Plates: Some of the combo plates at Three Amigos can be made into a well-balanced meal. The best choices are the Huevos Rancheros, Machaca, Chile Verde or Carne Asada Plates. Choose the corn tortilla over flour for a whole grain, higher-fiber choice.

To make it great: Dodge the sauce, finish the beans, but eat only one-third to one-half the rice (or none). And yes, go ahead and have the tortillas.

Enchiladas: Depending on how it's made, enchiladas can actually be a better choice than burritos. The reason being the lack of sour cream, rice or beans. 

To make it great: Ask for it without the cheese.

Go Slow

Starter Tortillas:  As with many Tex-Mex restaurants, Three Amigos provides you with tortilla chips to whet your palette. The good news is that they give you much less than other restaurants do, saving you a couple hundred calories.

Modify: If you really want to do well for your health, skip the tortilla chips.

Taco Salad: Surprisingly enough, salads can have more calories than a supreme burrito. The biggest problem with taco salads is the tortilla bowl because eating it is like indulging in two or three servings of chips. The second problem is the amount of sour cream and cheese.

Modify: Ask for it without the sour cream, cheese and rice, and be sure not to nibble the tortilla bowl. Adding salsa to the salad makes for a nutrient-packed and low-calorie dressing.

Stop

Quesadillas: Though homemade quesadillas can be made into a healthy dinner, restaurant quesadillas are packed with an entire day's worth of saturated fat and total fat, and sometimes up to 1,500 calories.

Taquitos: These are always deep fried, adding hundreds of calories from oil and potentially trans fats. Enough said.

With these tips and tricks in your pocket, you can go and enjoy a meal at Three Amigos without busting your diet.

My Meal: Chile Verde Plate with corn tortillas. I ate all the chicken, most of the beans and a few bites of the rice. I thoroughly enjoyed making a couple "tacos" with my corn tortillas, too. And yes, I did have about seven tortilla chips, which is approximately the size of one serving.