How to Make Healthier Quesadillas

How to Make Healthier Quesadillas
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Quesadillas are one of the most versatile Mexican foods out there. They can be eaten as an appetizer or as a meal. You do not have to eat them at a certain time of day because they can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Much like other foods, however, quesadillas are not always the healthiest option available for you to choose from. Here are some tips on how to make this delicious food at least somewhat healthier for you.

Only Use One Tortilla Shell

Instead of using two tortilla shells to make your quesadilla, why not cut down and just use one? All that you need to do is bend it in half when cooking it. Since you will be cutting the quesadilla down by half its regular size, you will be cutting down on the number of calories that you are consuming. This is a great way to enjoy the great taste of a quesadilla and make it healthier at the same time.

Add Vegetables to the Quesadilla

If you normally only put cheese in your quesadilla, why not add vegetables? Peppers, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini, and a variety of other veggies will make your quesadilla a lot more filling, so you will be less likely to get hungry later on. Even more importantly, it will add a great new flavor to the quesadilla, in addition to essential vitamins and minerals.

Opt For Low-Fat Cheese

One of the best ways to cut down on the calories and fat that is in the quesadilla is to use low-fat cheese. Most varieties melt just as easy as regular cheese. It is also unlikely that the cheese will taste any different than whole fat cheese, so the quesadilla will be just as flavorful as it normally would have been. If you don’t have any low-fat cheese available, consider adding varieties that tend to have rich flavor, which may satisfy your hunger better. Cheddar and provolone are great options.

Select Low-Fat Meat

There are many different types of low-fat varieties of meat that can be added to the quesadilla if you are planning to make it into a meal. Turkey, chicken, and salmon are all great options. Try to avoid fatty meats such as beef, unless you opt for a reduced fat variety. When you add both vegetables and meat to the quesadilla, you will be a lot less likely to snack later on.

Leave Out Egg Yolks

Many people enjoy scrambled egg and cheese quesadillas. One of the best ways to make this healthier is to leave out the yolks and only add the egg whites. There are several other ways to make this healthy. Avoid putting bacon in the quesadilla and opt for either turkey bacon or turkey sausage instead. Also consider adding spinach or broccoli to the breakfast quesadilla.

There are so many different ways to make quesadillas healthier for you. In general, the most important thing to do is to replace the ingredients that you already use with healthier varieties. It is also important to make sure that the ingredients that you do add to your quesadilla will keep your hunger satisfied, in order to prevent you from snacking.