How to Make Healthy Nachos

As a dietitian, I'm always looking for ways to make foods healthier and to add extra vegetables to meals. Nachos are actually one of my favorite foods, but the typical nachos with salty cheese sauce would definitely be considered junk food. Preparing foods at home, rather than eating out, is a great way to reduce calories and improve the nutritional content of meals.

Start with tortilla chips, which are lower in saturated fat and sodium than most chips, just be aware of the serving size. Then add an assortment of your favorite vegetables, such as black beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, and onions. Top them off with part-skim mozzarella cheese, which is the lowest fat natural cheese. Add salsa for another serving of vegetables. You can microwave each plate of nachos, or heat the ingredients in pots on the stove top when serving a group. Garnish with fresh lime and cilantro for extra flavor. I like to add a side salad with fresh greens and ranch dressing, as well.

Burritos

It's the weekend, so I decided to prepare some bean burritos to freeze for convenience during the work week. I used whole wheat tortillas, a can of refried beans, a chopped onion, taco sauce, and mozzarella cheese. The whole wheat tortillas and beans are good sources of fiber, and part-skim mozzarella cheese is the lowest fat natural cheese. 
Just put a scoop of beans on a tortilla, add some onions, a few spoonfuls of taco sauce, and top with a sprinkling of cheese. Then roll up the burritos, and place them in a container to freeze. 

For a quick dinner or something to pack for lunch during the week, just grab a burrito from the freezer. Microwave it, and you've got a meal. Add some fresh lettuce, tomato, and cilantro, or have chips and salsa. Just remember to check the serving size on the tortilla chips.