Healthy Nachos

• Yield:3 Servings
• Difficulty:Moderate
• Time:30 minutes

What is America’s quintessential favorite fun food besides pizza? Nachos, of course! Are they ever considered healthy food? Please stop laughing—I’m trying to tell you something here! Any food can be altered and have ingredients swapped out for things that taste just as good but are a little bit healthier for you. You may not find this on the average competition diet, but it isn’t a cheat meal as much as the original is! At my house, we actually ate this one for dinner after developing the recipe. It has the three macros—carbs, protein, and healthy fats. It’s up to you to control the portions, and this is so yummy that that can be the challenging part!

One day, I was wandering through the supermarket and a huge bag of non-GMO tortilla chips was sitting on the shelf. Hence, the idea for healthy nachos sprung into my head! Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy a plate of nachos without the typical nutritional information that usually accompanies a plate of nachos? With that bag of tortilla chips, I felt we were already half-way there. In today’s world, it is really hard to find any corn products that are non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms). The rest was up to me to create a recipe for nachos that could actually be considered a nutritious meal!

Ingredients:

• 16 non-GMO tortilla chips (28 or 1 oz., as mentioned on the package)
• 1 pound of lean ground turkey or beef
• 1 small can of tomato sauce
• ½ can tomatoes with green chilies
• ¾ of a white onion, chopped
• ½ head of lettuce chopped fine
• 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 2 tbsp. black olives, sliced
• 2 tbsp. Low fat sour cream
• 2 tbsp. Low fat Mexican shredded cheese
• 2 tbsp. guacamole or mashed avocado
• ¼ tsp. garlic powder
• ½ tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. dried cilantro, or fresh cilantro (amount to fit your taste)
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• ½ tsp. cumin
• 1 tbsp. taco seasoning of choice

Directions:

Chop onion, lettuce, and anything else that needs chopping (I had to chop my olives) and set lettuce aside. In a large pan, sauté about 2/3 of the onion you have prepared in the olive oil until it looks somewhat clear. Add the meat to the onions and brown it, chopping it fine with a spatula until all pink is gone. Add the tomato sauce and spices; simmer a few minutes until the sauce thickens. Lay the chips on the plate, top with the lettuce, meat, the rest of the onion, the tomatoes with chilies, and the rest of the toppings. You can put it in the microwave for 30 seconds to melt the cheese, if desired. If that isn’t a fun, delicious, and easy dinner you and your family will love, I don’t know what is! You’re welcome!

Nutrition: