If you are on a low carbohydrate diet for weight loss, diabetes or other reason, one of your greatest challenges is eating out at restaurants. But among the biggest challenge will be Mexican food. The corn and flour tortillas alone may lead you to believe that there is nothing on the menu for you. However, this is not true. The following are a few low carbohydrate ideas that will allow you to enjoy Mexican cooking.

Restaurant style tostadas

Mexican restaurants commonly offer tostadas in fried tortillas bowls. For a low carbohydrate meal, simply eat everything but the shell. Sometimes these tostadas will come with a layer of rice and beans at the bottom, but this is usually not a large amount. If you are on a strict low carbohydrate diet, you can simply ask to hold the rice and beans. If the restaurant is making their tostadas with flat, fried tortillas, simply eat everything on the top of the tortilla. Everything else in a tostada is low in carbohydrates: meat, cheese, vegetables, guacamole and hot sauce.

Seafood and grilled meats

There is usually more than one dish that is made from fish, the trick is to order seafood that is served on a plate and not in a tortilla such as tacos. These types of dishes are often served with rice and beans, but you can ask to substitute a salad. The combination of fish and salad is both a low carbohydrate and nutritious meal. Along with seafood are the popular grilled fajitas. Often they are served separately from a tortilla, but you should ask for this when you order. Fajitas without a tortilla are often called naked fajitas. Also, you can order other grilled meats. Simply skip the tortilla and eat the food off the plate.

Soups

Sometimes a restaurant will have sopa de albondigas on their menu. This is basically meatball soup. If there are rice and beans in the soup, it may not be as low in carbohydrates for those on a strict diet, but for most people, the amount of both ingredients is small enough that it is still a low carbohydrate dish. Chile verde is another good choice. This is a thick soup made from pork and green chiles. It is tasty and also low in carbohydrates.

The above are only a few ideas for a low carbohydrate diet. As you explore the menu of a Mexican restaurant, keep in mind that your main problem will be tortillas, followed by rice and beans; however, the above information should make it clear that you can still enjoy a meal at a Mexican restaurant while adhering to a low carbohydrate diet. For more information, why not look here or at other Mexican restaurants to get an idea of the menu and how to tailor your order.