Mexican food

Carne y queso are definitely not vegan-approved, but it seems as if they're in every dish at most Mexican restaurants. But that doesn't mean vegans have to skip out on South of the border hot spots — check out our cheat sheet for ordering vegan when the mood for Mexican strikes. Remember that it's always a good idea to let your server know that you're vegan ahead of time, in case there are menu items containing hidden animal ingredients.

Appetizers:

• Black bean soup: hold the sour cream and shredded cheese topping
• Tortillas with salsa and fresh guacamole
• Nachos: load up on the veggies, beans, and guacamole, but hold the sour cream and cheese; make sure the refried beans are made without lard

Salads:

• Fajita salad: ask for sautéed peppers, mushrooms, and onions instead of beef or chicken; hold the cheese and ask for avocado instead
• Tortilla salad: ask for extra beans, corn, black olives, and peppers, and skip the cheese; ask for a side of fresh guacamole and pico de gallo

Entrées:

• Rice and beans: go ahead and order both black and pinto beans, but make sure they're not cooked in lard or chicken broth
• Fajitas: opt for portobello mushrooms, green peppers, and onions instead of meat; hold the cheese
• Veggie quesadilla: ask for corn, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and broccoli to go inside the quesadilla using vegan refried beans to hold everything together instead of melted cheese
• Burrito: some places offer tofu as vegetarian choice, but if yours doesn't, then go for sautéed veggies, beans, rice, and salsa with a side of quac
• Soft or hard tacos: go for tofu or sautéed veggies and beans, rice, salsa, and guacamole

Source: Flickr user Tavallai

Between all that spice, comfort, and bright flavor, Mexican food always manages to tempt our taste buds for a delicious feast. The only downside? The recipes we typically associate with readily available Mexican grub in the US are not always the healthiest options for someone who's trying to cut back on extra calories. If you've been missing the tasty flavors of your Mexican favorites, then have no fear. I've called upon three amigos (three wildly simple switches) to make your favorite Mexican recipes healthier at home.

1. Reach for lighter (and less) dairy: All that delicious cheesy goodness is part of what makes Mexican classics so comforting. So, no need to say goodbye to it altogether! Instead of full-fat cheeses, pull for part-skim cheese options for an easy fix that won't skimp on flavor or texture. I also love the idea of using greek yogurt instead of sour cream to cut back on unnecessary fat. I've made a huge plate of these healthy enchiladas and subbed greek yogurt for the sour cream without anyone noticing!

2. Grab whole-wheat options: We all know that refined carbs are just bad news, but don't let them creep their way into your kitchen with your chips or traditional flour tortillas. Luckily this is a wildly easy fix. Just choose whole wheat instead!

Keep reading for one more trick to make Mexican food healthier.

There is nothing better than finding your taqueria. I'm referring to that moment when you fall upon that gem of a hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant with carne asada that melts in your mouth, or chiles rellenos that makes everything you've ever tasted — ever! — pale in comparison. After living in the Midwest for a few years, I forgot all about the fervor people have for taquerias until I moved to San Francisco, a city where everyone you come across has a favorite go-to spot that makes their favorite inexpensive, unassuming Mexican fare. And when you ask anyone who loves Mexican grub where their favorite burrito lives, nine times out of 10, they've got an automatic answer lined up. No thinking required.

The politics of taquerias intrigue me; I'm a little more than curious about the requisites for what makes a taqueria truly epic. I get that it's personal, but here are five of the things people have shared as integral when falling in love with their taqueria for the very first time. See what they are when you keep reading.

In Texas, much like the cattle that dot the Lone Star State, Tex-Mex dishes like enchiladas, queso, and chimichangas dominate. As a native Houstonian, I've devoured more than my fair share of Tex-Mex fare. Nonetheless, I have a deep, dark confession to make: I've never understood the real difference between beef tacos (like tacos al carbon) and fajitas. After all, they're both hot Mexican plates that involve wrapping tortillas around sizzling meat. So is there really even a difference? Turns out there actually is. Lisa Fain of the Texas cooking blog Homesick Texan helped set the record straight: "The difference between a fajita and a taco is that the former refers to a type of meat, while the latter refers to a method of presentation," she explained. Find out why this is the case when you read more.

Considering their extensive use of all kinds of chiles, Latinos really know their hot sauces. Since I stock my fridge with several kinds of hot sauce (each one has a different use!), when it comes to Mexican cuisine, I have one brand I can't get enough of: Valentina salsa picante. This slightly smoky, thick, and spicy sauce is wonderful on everything from eggs to tacos.

How about you? What's your favorite kind of Mexican hot sauce? Tapatio? Cholula?

Cinco de Mayo is finally almost here, and we're already drooling over the fiesta we plan to indulge in tomorrow. Here at Yum, we're pretty partial to tacos of all kinds. Hard shell, soft shell, chicken tacos, fish tacos — you name it, we'll happily eat it with a margarita or cerveza! There's something so satisfying about the simple combination of meat, salsa, and tortillas. Whether or not it's your favorite Mexican dish, what do you prefer in your tacos?

Source: Flickr User stu_spivack