Spicy Mexican food continues to be hot trend

Some like it hot, and according to 2009 trend watchers, even more diners are joining the spicy food fan club. That means Mexican food is poised for even greater popularity.

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Trend watchers say diners are veering into the spicy food lane, which could add to the popularity of Mexican food. Shrimp ceviche, which is marinated in citrus, is a lower-calorie option to standard meat and cheese laden Mexican dishes.

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That’s good news for health-conscious flavor-seekers who are trying to eat less fat and fewer calories. More Mexican menus and recipes are getting their zing from zesty calorie-free ingredients such as garlic, hot peppers, smoked chiles, fresh salsas, dried spices, tangy limes and fragrant herbs, such as cilantro.

While Tex-Mex dishes first attracted many of us to Mexican flavors with their liberal use of high-fat ingredients such as melted cheese, fried tortillas and gobs of sour cream, the latest taste trend is closer to the healthier, more traditional cuisines south of the border.

Lighter Mexican on menu

Rosa Mexicana restaurant, located in Atlantic Station, has an impressive selection of healthier menu choices including Alambre de Camarones: grilled shrimp marinated in garlic vinaigrette with onions, tomatoes, serrano peppers and Yucatan pico de gallo. They’ll even bring you raw jicama crudités instead of fried tortilla chips to enjoy with guacamole made fresh to order tableside. Jicama is a crunchy root vegetable also called the Mexican potato but tastes more like an apple. It’s low in calories (46 calories per cup and high in fiber (6 grams per cup). Compare that to a bowl full of fried tortilla chips at 20 calories per chip.

Uncle Julio’s Mexican restaurant group, with a location in Buckhead, has teamed with a hospital in Dallas to create dietitian approved heart-healthy menu items. I like to order the shrimp ceviche appetizer and three freshly made tortillas on the side. I wrap the shrimp in the tortillas, add some pico de gallo (chopped tomato, onion, garlic, jalapeño and cilantro) and a squeeze of lime. Skip the margaritas at 300 calories for a six-ounce drink, or choose a 12-ounce Tecate or Dos Equis beer at 150 calories or light beer at 100 calories.

I’m happy to see other menu improvements around town, too.

Tin Lizzy’s offers whole wheat tortillas and three kinds of freshly made salsas. Chipotle Mexican Grill, with outlets nationwide, has a corporate “food with integrity” program that includes serving naturally raised pork, chicken and beef as well as cheese and sour cream from dairies where cows are not treated with bovine growth hormone. Dietitian’s note: This doesn’t mean these ingredients have any fewer calories.

Carolyn O’Neil is a registered dietitian and co-author of “The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!” E-mail her at carolyn@carolynoneil.com.