The #1 Healthiest Order at 9 Major Mexican Chains

There are more times than we all care to admit when making meals at home just doesn't make sense with our busy schedules. Preparing a grocery list, assessing the current home inventory of foods, carving out time to grocery shop (or even receiving a food delivery from your favorite retailer), collecting said groceries, putting them away, and then preparing them in your own kitchen is a process.

Thankfully, some better-for-you choices abound on the menus of nearby Mexican fast food and casual dining establishments, giving you more time in your day for other things while you enjoy a fresh meal. Oftentimes these menu items are customizable if you need to tailor the menu item as written to align with a food allergy or intolerance, food preference, or health goal.

These top strategies can help you navigate the menu at your favorite Mexican restaurant for healthier fare:

• Limit portions. The smaller your serving, the smaller the calorie contribution.
• Seek out extra vegetables. Including more vegetables is a simple way to boost nutrition and bulk of a menu item.
• Forgo added creams and oils when possible. Although added fats provide flavor, they come at a price: nine calories per gram, the most of any macronutrient. Creams often have a higher percentage of saturated fat than unsaturated (more desirable) fat.

Read on for our list of go-to menu items from nine major Mexican chains And next, check out The #1 Unhealthiest Order at 9 Major Fast-Food Mexican Chains.

Chipotle Plant Powered Lifestyle Bowl

This "lifestyle" bowl includes all of the things we like seeing more of in a Mexican-style meal: lettuce, sofritas (tofu!), fajita veggies, salsa, and guacamole. It delivers a hearty 720 calories and 16g fiber. Beans (like soybeans) are recognized for their association with satiety and weight management, making them an ideal part of this meal.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

RELATED: 20 Healthy Fast-Food Orders, According to Dietitians

Qdoba Fajita Vegan Bowl

This menu item at Qdoba cuts right to the chase with seasoned rice and grilled vegetables piled high in a 22g-fiber-filled, plant-powered bowl. The reasonable 2.5g saturated fat is an appropriate restaurant choice to help control chronic conditions like diabetes.

Taco Bell Power Menu Bowl

Not only does this bowl from Taco Bell contain nearly two servings of vegetables, but it is also a good source of calcium, iron, and potassium. Iron is an important mineral for blood and oxygen transfer, as well as neurological development and cellular functioning.

RELATED: 10 Healthiest Sources of Protein You Can Eat

On the Border Grilled Portobello Bolder Border Bowl

This version of a rice bowl lends its flavor to cilantro and lime, along with great toppings like black beans, pickled red onions, toasted corn, pico de gallo, and sliced avocado. It comes out to 580 calories, which is a very appropriate calorie range for a solid meal to support weight goals, with 19g of fiber to boot.

Moe's Southwest Grill Junior Homewrecker

Moe's offers a choice when you select a burrito of a 12-inch regular tortilla or a 10-inch junior tortilla. Go with the slightly smaller junior and you save 110 calories. Build your recipe with fish, southwest slaw, grilled mushrooms, pickled jalapenos, diced cucumber, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, and guacamole for a very reasonable 337 calories.

Taco John's The Chicken Boss Bowl

 

This bowl will keep you full between the tasty mound of cilantro-lime rice and black beans, along with chicken and a sensible amount of cheese and sour cream. The 36g of protein contained in this meal is plenty to support lean muscle and keep cravings at bay.

RELATED: The 30 Healthiest Low-Carb Foods

Baja Fresh Impossible Chili Lime Salad

This customized salad starts with a fun, unique base including kale, bell pepper, jicama, tortilla strips, cotija cheese, avocado, and chili lime dressing. Your protein topping pick of Impossible plant-based "meat" adds protein and brings it all together at under 1,000mg of sodium. (The one pictured here features shrimp, but go for plant-based protein instead!)

Del Taco 8 Layer Veggie Burrito

This vegetable-centric burrito contains the usuals like cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, lettuce, and guacamole, but also with a generous amount of slow-cooked beans. Beans deliver excellent amounts of fiber and are often associated with improved health outcomes in chronic diseases like hypertension.

RELATED: 13 Chain Restaurant Meals with More Sugar Than 4 Donuts

El Pollo Loco The World's First Keto Burrito

This menu item provides just 9g net carbs and is appropriate for someone following a ketogenic ("keto") diet. Keep in mind that keto-friendly products will often register high on fat, so be sure to factor this into the rest of your food choices throughout the day. Otherwise, this menu item is a good selection given the use of non-starchy vegetables and the keto tortilla.