Consumer Reports has the tips you need to stay healthy this Cinco de Mayo

AS YOU PLAN FOR A CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION, THERE ARE OPTIONS TO ENJOY MEXICAN FOOD IN A HEALTHY WAY. DAVID: CONSUMER REPORTS SHOWS US HOW TO STAY AWAY FROM A LOT OF FAT, CALORIES AND SODIUM. HERE’S QUANECIA FRASE REPORTER: CELEBRATORY MEALINS THE MONTIEL HOME ARE RICH IN FLAVOR AND TRADITION. >> FOOD UNITES US, ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON, ITAS H UNITED US MORE THAN EV.ER >> VERY SQUISHY. REPORTER: FOR SAUL AND HIS WEIF ELIANA, COOKING IS A FAMILY AFFA.IR THEY MAKE RICE AND BEANS TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. MEXICAN AND DOMINICAN-STE.YL AND, BESIDES BEING DELICIO,US CONSUMER REPORTS SAYS RICE AND BEANS CAN ALSO BE REALLY HEALY.TH >> BLACK BEANS, KIDNEY BEANS, PINTO BEANS, THEY’RE ALL PACKED WITH ANTIOXIDANTS AND FIR.BE PLUS, THE MINERALS POTASSIUMND A MAGNESIUM. WHITE RICE IS OFTEN FORTIFIED WITH B-VITAMINS BUT FOR MAXIMUM NUTRITION, YOU COULD CHOOSE BROWN RI.CE REPORTER: TOGETHER, BROWN CERI AND BEANS PACK A POWERFUL PROTEIN PUNCH 12 GRAMS PER CUP AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL FIBER. >> BOOST FLAVOR WITH GARC,LI ONIONS AND HERBS INSTEAD OF HAM HOCKS OR BACON. REPORTER: MEXICAN CUISINE FEATURES OTHER HEALTHY BASICS, LIKE AVOCADOS, TOMATOES, PEPPERS, ONION AND CHILES SO FEEL FREE TO INDULGE. >> YOU CAN CUT BACK ON SODIUM BY MAKING YOUR OWN FRESH DIPS, KELI GUACAMOLE, OR SALSA, SEASONED TO YOURAS. T >> TORLLA.TI REPORTER: AND WHICH TORTILLA TO WRAP IT ALUP?L CORN IS A WHOLE GRAIN, WHILE FLOUR VERSIONS ARE TYPICALLY MADE WITH REFINED WHEAT FLOUR, WHICH LACKS NUTRIENTS. AS FOR FROZEN MARGARITAS, CONSUMER REPORTS SAYS NOT ALL CONSUMER-GRADE BLENDERS CAN CREATE A SMOOTH, FROSTY DRINK A BLENDER EARNS AN EXCELLENT RATING IN OUR TESTS IF IT MAKES A SMOOTH, CONSISTENT PINA COLADA. THIS INSTANT ACES IA CR BTES BY AT $120. SO TAKE A MOME TNTO SIP, CELEBRATE AND SHARE A MEAL WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. FOR CO

As you plan for a Cinco de Mayo celebration, there are options to enjoy Mexican food in a healthy way!

As you plan for a Cinco de Mayo celebration, there are options to enjoy Mexican food in a healthy way! Consumer Reports has the tips you need to stay away from a lot of fat, calories and sodium. Celebratory meals in the Montiel home are rich in flavor and tradition.”Food unites us, especially with everything going on, it has united us more than ever,” said Saúl Montiel. For Saul and his wife Eliana, cooking is a family affair. They make rice and beans two different ways. Mexican and Dominican-style! Besides being delicious, Consumer Reports says rice and beans can also be really healthy. “Black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans — they’re all packed with antioxidants and fiber. Plus the minerals potassium and magnesium. White rice is often fortified with b-vitamins but for maximum nutrition, you could choose brown rice,” said Tricia Calvo, Consumer Reports health editor. Together, brown rice and beans pack a powerful protein punch of 12 grams per cup and provide essential fiber. “Boost flavor with garlic, onions and herbs instead of ham hocks or bacon,” Calvo said.Mexican cuisine features other healthy basics, like avocados, tomatoes, peppers, onion and chiles, so feel free to indulge.”You can cut back on sodium by making your own fresh dips, like guacamole, or salsa, seasoned to your taste,” Calvo said.Which tortilla should you use to wrap it all up? Corn is a whole grain, while flour versions are typically made with refined wheat flour, which lacks nutrients.As for frozen margaritas, Consumer Reports says not all consumer-grade blenders can create a smooth, frosty drink a blender earns an excellent rating in our tests if it makes a smooth, consistent pina colada. Consumer Reports says the instant ace is a best buy at about $120. So take a moment to sip, celebrate and share a meal with your family and friends.

As you plan for a Cinco de Mayo celebration, there are options to enjoy Mexican food in a healthy way!

Consumer Reports has the tips you need to stay away from a lot of fat, calories and sodium.

Celebratory meals in the Montiel home are rich in flavor and tradition.

“Food unites us, especially with everything going on, it has united us more than ever,” said Saúl Montiel.

For Saul and his wife Eliana, cooking is a family affair. They make rice and beans two different ways. Mexican and Dominican-style! Besides being delicious, Consumer Reports says rice and beans can also be really healthy.

“Black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans — they’re all packed with antioxidants and fiber. Plus the minerals potassium and magnesium. White rice is often fortified with b-vitamins but for maximum nutrition, you could choose brown rice,” said Tricia Calvo, Consumer Reports health editor.

Together, brown rice and beans pack a powerful protein punch of 12 grams per cup and provide essential fiber.

“Boost flavor with garlic, onions and herbs instead of ham hocks or bacon,” Calvo said.

Mexican cuisine features other healthy basics, like avocados, tomatoes, peppers, onion and chiles, so feel free to indulge.

“You can cut back on sodium by making your own fresh dips, like guacamole, or salsa, seasoned to your taste,” Calvo said.

Which tortilla should you use to wrap it all up? Corn is a whole grain, while flour versions are typically made with refined wheat flour, which lacks nutrients.

As for frozen margaritas, Consumer Reports says not all consumer-grade blenders can create a smooth, frosty drink a blender earns an excellent rating in our tests if it makes a smooth, consistent pina colada.

Consumer Reports says the instant ace is a best buy at about $120. So take a moment to sip, celebrate and share a meal with your family and friends.