For Cinco de Mayo: A Mexican hat dance and these healthy recipes!

Just about everybody loves Mexican food. And why not? It's loaded with yummy food like beans, rice, and sour cream. Oh, and did I mention it also goes right to your thighs?

Well, this Cinco De Mayo, treat your family and friends to healthy, light, and delicious recipes that celebrate Mexico's freedom and liberty from the French in 1862 -- and your freedom from boring meals.

VIVA EL CINCO DE MAYO!!



5-Layer Dip

2 green onions, chopped
1 tsp. oil
1/2 cup cooked kidney beans
1/2 tomato, chopped
1 oz. reduced-fat cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp. salsa
1 Tbsp. fat-free sour cream

In a medium bowl, combine 1 chopped green onion, oil, and cooked beans. With a fork, mash beans to form a paste. Place bean paste in bottom of small bowl. Top with chopped tomato. Top tomato with cheese, and then follow with salsa. Spread sour cream over cheese layer. Sprinkle with remaining green onion.

Servings: 4
Serving size: 1/4 recipe
Counts as: 1/2 protein, 1 vegetable, 1 fat, 1/2 dairy


Guacamole

2 avocados, diced
1/2 small onion, diced
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 tsp. light salt
1 jalapeno, diced (optional)

In a large bowl, lightly mash avocado with a fork. Next add remaining ingredients; toss to combine. Chill 30 minutes before serving.

Servings: 4
Serving Size: 1/4 cup
Counts as: 1 vegetable, 1 fat



Grilled Mexican Chicken Breast

6 or 8 oz. boneless-skinless, chicken breast (size according to plan)
1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup distilled vinegar
1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 bay leaf
Nonfat cooking spray

Rinse chicken; pat dry. Set aside. In a medium pot, mix garlic, soy sauce, water, vinegar, freshly ground pepper, and bay leaf. In a skillet coated with nonfat cooking spray, sear chicken over medium high heat, approximately 3-4 minutes. Add chicken to marinade. Simmer over low heat for 20-25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from pot. Continue to cook sauce until slightly thick or desired consistency.

Servings: 1
Serving size: 1 recipe
Counts as: 1 protein



Chicken and Avocado Wraps

5 or 7 oz. plain, cooked chicken (size according to plan)
2 Tbsp. salsa
1/8 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
1 Tbsp. red onion, diced
1 1/2 tsp. pepper sauce (optional)
1/2 whole wheat flour tortilla

In a bowl combine, chicken, salsa, avocado, red onion, and pepper sauce. Place chicken salad on tortilla and roll.

Servings: 1
Serving size: 1 wrap
Counts as: 1 protein, 1 starch, 1 fat