Cinco de Mayo: Partying in Español
Mariachi, colors, flags and, of course, food. Those of us who live in the United States and miss our country, Mexico, see Cinco de Mayo as a great reason to meet people and celebrate our culture. And although nobody celebrates it in Mexico, except in school ceremonies, it’s still an excellent reason to party. This year, consider throwing an outdoor or virtual party with your friends and family.
If you’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo party this year, you may be in charge of buying various Mexican decorations, snacks and dishes. Here’s a tip: break away from the nacho cheddar cheese today and try something new.
And what about managing our diabetes? Don’t worry, diabetes is also invited to your fiesta on May 5th. Here we’re sharing three simple Mexican dishes that won’t interfere with your blood sugar management and will make you look like a great host who knows about Mexican tradition.
Guacamole
- 3 avocados
- 1/2 finely chopped onion
- 2 large chopped tomatoes
- 1 chile Serrano (Too spicy? Use jalapeño instead!)
- 1 lime
- ½ tablespoon of salt
Instructions: Chop up and mix everything in a bowl, season to taste. It’s that simple!
Nutrition Content: ⅓ avocado (approx. 50 grams) contains about 80 calories, 4 grams of carbohydrates
Rajas con Queso (Strips with Cheese)
- 4 Poblano peppers
- 1/2 finely chopped onion
- 1/2 cup Corn cob
- 500 gr Asadero cheese (Manchego or your preferred cheese will also work)
- 1/2 cup of Cream
In Mexico, preparation for this requires that we put the chiles in the “comal,” a smooth surface made of clay used for cooking tortillas or roasting vegetables and spices, and then peeling them. This can be tough if you don’t have one, but you can roast them on your own or find rajas in the frozen section of the market, there are even ones you don’t have to peel.
Instructions: Cut the poblano in strips. Sauté the onion in a tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat until hot, add the peppers and cook for an additional two minutes. Add at least three tablespoons of cream and then add the cheese.
Enchiladas
Seeking a low-carb option? Check out Real Good Foods enchiladas. They have chicken, verde salsa pork and cheese enchiladas available. Plus, their enchiladas only have 4g of carbs per meal and 20g of protein. Their gluten-free tortillas are also made from scratch, with antibiotic-free chicken breast, and are slow-cooked!
Both the guacamole and the rajas are best eaten in a taco, look for corn tortillas to eat 2 tacos. A corn tortilla has approximately 64 calories and 14 grams of carbohydrates. Please don’t use flour tortillas.
Yes, we have not forgotten about tequila. Stay away from Margaritas and give yourself a little leeway to take a few caballitos de tequila (shots of tequila). But before you drink, know how alcohol affects your blood sugar.
¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo amigos!
