Mexican food can KILL your health and weight loss efforts… Here’s the secret to eating your Mexican faves while losing weight and staying healthy! (30-Minute Mexican Bowl)

We know how it is… Sometimes you’re just craving Mexican food. And while you and we both agree that the 80/20 rule is the best approach to health and weight loss, we also understand that cravings don’t have a schedule. So how can you satisfy your Tex Mex cravings and keep moving toward your goals? Enter your new favorite healthy mexican recipe: 30-Minute Mexican Protein Bowl.

Now, we all know that Mexican food isn’t the most lean and clean option on the block… That’s why we’ve made this super clean, super lean, 100% Nutrifitx Approved healthy Mexican recipe for you! It’s high protein, so you know you’ll stay full and you know it will help balance your blood sugar. What’s more is that studies show those who consume higher quantities of protein have higher lean body mass (aka, this recipe supports body recomposition), thus staying leaner. And, protein has a thermogenic effect on the body, meaning it takes more calories to process your food when it’s higher in protein. So, the TEF (thermic effect of food) increases your calorie burn from digestion to anywhere from 10-20%. This also contributes to satiety. More protein means staying fuller longer due to its increased digestive thermogesis.

Now, if you’re following the Nutrifitx System, you know how important it is to get your protein in, with which meals, and in total balance with your other nutrients. This method helps support metabolic health, overall wellness, and (of course) weight loss. So, for those of you on the Nutrifitx System, this recipe fits right in with your regular routine. Add rice or a Nutrifitx Approved tortilla for a quick, delicious lunch recipe! (And, don’t forget to use the Nutrifitx Food Timing Scale above the recipe for optimal results.)

Why is traditional Mexican food bad for you?

What most of us call “Mexican” is more accurately called “Tex Mex.” True Mexican food isn’t as “bad” for you as Tex Mex is, but there are still some things to be concerned about.

• High fat, high cholesterol beef isn’t the best for the body and digestion. Nothing is “off limits” on the Nutrifitx System; however, we do educate you on the effects of certain foods to help you make healthy decisions 80% of the time. We suggest keeping your beef intake a bit lower than average to give your intestines time to clear the meat from your system, decrease the impact on your cholesterol, and give you the opportunity to consume other foods.
• High fat dairy served in high volumes can also have a negative impact on the body. Dairy itself isn’t necessary bad for you, but high quantities are not the nutrition your body craves. Dairy is high in salt and contains mostly saturated fats. Some saturated fats aren’t necessary, but unsaturated fats are great for your brain, organs, hormones, and other bodily processes. On average Americans consume far too much saturated fats, and dairy is one of those reasons. Plus, it’s known that dairy can cause constipation in many people, even those who are not intolerant or allergic.
• Mexican and Tex Mex foods are often low in protein and contain lots of high glycemic carbs which wreaks havoc on your metabolic health. Metabolic health is much more than just your blood sugar, but blood sugar plays a huge role. With meals like tacos, nachos, enchiladas, and other Mexican faves, we’re consuming very high quantities of high glycemic carbohydrates while they are lacking fiber and protein. A balance is essential for balancing your blood sugar levels.

So, combine all of those together, and you can see the havoc traditional Mexican and Tex Mex food have on the body:

• High glycemic carbs
• Low protein
• High saturated fats
• High volume of dairy
• Low volume of fiber

Does that mean you should NEVER eat Mexican or Tex Mex food again?

Absolutely not! The Nutrifitx System never tells you that any food or food group is off limits. We teach you how to eat all the foods you love in balance with health and weight loss supporting foods – and we teach you exactly what health and weight loss supporting foods are. Can you eat at your favorite Mexican restaurant while you’re on the System? YES! Can you eat pizza when you’re on the System? OF COURSE! Can you have cookies when you’re on the System? We’ll never tell you no! (And we even have this Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe that you can enjoy even when you’re eating healthy!)

Here’s why you can enjoy this healthy Mexican recipe every day of the week:

• We replaced ground beef with lean ground turkey. Is turkey better for you than beef? Not necessarily… Beef has nutrients and minerals that aren’t as readily available in other meats; but it’s also not the leanest cut. We recommend limiting beef intake. However, to make a healthy Mexican recipe, we like to use lean ground turkey instead. This is something you can enjoy 80% of the time – weekly if you want!
• The fat is minimized by using butter instead of beef fats to season the taco meat. There is no doubt that taco seasoned beef is absolutely DELISH! But, what makes it so good is the fat that cooks out of the meat – even the lean ground beef. By using butter instead of meat fat, we’re controlling how much fats we’re consuming, and we’re consuming them from a clean source. We recommend using hormone free butter, and if possible, grass fed butter.
• We’ve included anti-inflammatory vegetables and herbs that you don’t always see in traditional Mexican foods. This healthy Mexican recipe is elevated by roasted fresh squash, onions, and jalapenos. Using olive oil ups the anti-inflammatory properties, plus you get all the benefits of fresh cilantro. Research suggests that cilantro is beneficial for heart health, weight control, increased energy, and more.
• This healthy Mexican recipe uses black beans instead of pinto beans. Pinto beans are definitely a healthy choice! However, the antioxidant properties of black beans can’t be beat. Black beans have come to be known as a healthy food with one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants available. We would consider them a superfood! They’re also higher in protein than most beans, and they offer additional fiber (which most of us fall short on). The fiber, protein, and antioxidants give them powerful anti-inflammatory properties, and we love them for that!
• We boosted this dish with a few spicy ingredients that has a small effect on increasing the thermogenic properties even further! That means you’ll further increase the calorie burn by boosting your metabolism (calories burned) during digestion.

NUTRIFITX MEMBERS’ SCALE

30-Minute Healthy Mexican Bowl Recipe

30-Minute Mexican Protein Bowl

Yield: 4 Servings

Prep Time: 15 seconds

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes 15 seconds

This bowl is a great metabolism boosting dinner serving 4-6 people. High protein and spice kick up the thermogenic properties, and fresh roasted veggies and cilantro support your health on a micro level. Great for meal prep. Mix it up by serving over rice or on your favorite Nutrifitx Approved tortilla/wrap.

Print

Ingredients

• 20 oz Lean Ground Turkey (90-98% lean recommended)
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Tbsp Butter (grass fed recommended)
• 1 tsp Ground Cumin
• 2 tsp Chipotle Chili Powder, Organic
• 1/2 Tbsp Smoked Paprika, Organic
• 2 cans Black Beans (organic recommended)
• 4 Yellow Squash, cubed
• 2 Onions, sliced
• 3-5 Fresh Jalapenos, Organic
• 1/2 cup Fresh Cilantro
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 (F).
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in skillet over medium heat. (You'll know oil is ready when you tilt the skillet and the oil runs across the pan like water.) Tilt and roll skillet until bottom is completely coated with oil.
3. Add ground turkey to skillet, stirring periodically until cooked completely and slightly browned. Be sure to break turkey into smaller chunks as you cook.
4. Meanwhile, chop squash, onion, and jalapenos; tear cilantro leaves from stems to fill 1/2 cup. Add all fresh vegetables to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Stir to coat all vegetables. Add cilantro, stir until mixed evenly.
5. Return to turkey meat. Once cooked completely, turn heat to low. Add butter, mixing as it melts. Once butter coats meat completely, add seasonings one at a time, mixing between each. (This ensures meat is coated completely.) Turn heat all the way down, and cover to prevent drying.
6. Line 1-2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper, and pour fresh veggie blend onto pan. (Using 2 pans will give your veggies a more roasted flavor and texture, and they'll cook faster.) Salt and pepper to taste. Place in oven for 7 minutes (with convection) or 10 minutes without convection.
7. While vegetables are cooking, rinse and drain black beans. Pour beans into meat mixture, and stir GENTLY until well combined. (If you don't want mashed beans, be very gentle and stop as soon as the beans are mixed in evenly.) Recover and place on warmer or very low heat.
8. Once vegetables are ready, remove from oven. Stir the vegetables around and place back in oven for 7-10 minutes (7 mins with convection, 10 mins without) or until vegetables are cooked to your preferred texture.
9. When vegetables are ready, assemble your bowls. Place protein mix (beans and meat) on bottom and roasted vegetables on top. Optional: Add your favorite toppings. We like shredded lettuce, fresh cilantro, chopped pico de gallo, and chipotle sauce. You could also add 1-2 Tbsp sour cream (or Greek yogurt) or 1/2-1 ounce of shredded cheese.

Notes

Ingredients with "organic" must be organic to be Nutrifitx Approved (see the Nutrifitx System for more details). Ingredients with "organic recommended" are highly recommended but not necessarily required to be Nutrifitx Approved.

*Reminder: Be mindful of your portion sizes with toppings and oils.

Nutrition Information

Yield 4 Serving Size 1 Serving (1/4 of Recipe)
Amount Per Serving Calories 340Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 4.6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4.12gCholesterol 92.3mgCarbohydrates 14.4gFiber 3.9gSugar 3.3gProtein 38g

Nutrition may vary due to brands used, precision of measurements, and other similar variations. Nutrition does not include additional toppings or food pairings.

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