Today we celebrated Cinco de Mayo on ABC Charleston with healthy swaps that actually taste great!
Tip 1: Upgrade your chips and dip
Cinco de Mayo is incomplete without chips and dip. I shared not your typical tortilla chips but ones made with peas, lentils, chickpeas and sweet potatoes. They’re called ChickBean Crisps by Saffron Road. You can find these at Whole Foods, Earth Fare and on Amazon. What I like about these is that they are baked not fried with 4 grams of plant-protein per serving, with no artificial colors or preservatives and they’re certified gluten-free.
If we are going to have chips then we need to have a delicious dip and salsa is a nutrition option – its low in calories, high in vitamins, minerals and fiber. I especially love Fresh Cravings Salsa because its so fresh that you can only find it chilled in the produce section. It’s made fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes, crisp handpicked veggies, zesty peppers and spices that give it that homemade taste. Their recipe is never cooked or pasteurized and you can find them at Walmart, Publix and Kroger.
Tip 2: Build your main course around lean protein
For our main course I shared Springer Mountain Farms chicken 3 ways – in tacos, skillet nachos and grilled with salsa. Chicken is a lean protein which makes it a great option for building your main course around. Springer Mountain Farms is a family owned local company with over 350 family farms in the mountains of Northeast Georgia. Their chickens are vegetarian fed and humanely raised in fact they were the first poultry producer to gain the endorsement of the American Humane Association.
Tip 3: Cheers to Cinco de May with better-for-you bevs
It’s not Cinco de Mayo without margaritas! I shared my watermelon white wine margaritas made with FitVine Wine. FitVine Wine was developed by friends who wanted to craft delicious wine to complement their active lifestyles that had less sugar, fewer sulfites and no flavor additives. On average all FitVine wines have less calories, carbohydrates and 90% less sugar per serving than any other wines BUT without sacrificing taste or alcohol content.
