Healthy Cinco de Mayo recipes

Helloooooo! How’s the afternoon treating ya? It’s been a fun and busy one over here. Standard Monday with spin, Liv’s gymnastics class, BODYPUMP and running around with errands. We’re going on a little trip this weekend, so I’m trying to get some things together now so it’s not the usual end-of-the-week scramble. I’m also trying to figure out what fun preschooler-friendly events are in Las Vegas.

Fountains

(THE BEST)

When I was younger, there were a lot of cool theme parks, shows and arcades. Vegas has changed a bit since then. The streets are littered with beloved TV and movie characters (in costumes that are a little rough haha), and it will be interesting to see Liv’s reaction. “Mama, why is scary Elmo getting sick in the trash can?”  “Look away!”

I can’t believe tomorrow is already Cinco de Mayo. I was quickly reminded when we tried to drive through Old Town this weekend (big mistake). Though I obviously won’t be participating in the bebidas this year -just looking at the margaritas longingly like some drink creeper- Stawberry jalapeno ritas  1 of 1 3

you can bet your booty I’ll be enjoying a Mexican feast with the fam. 🙂

Maybe it’s the fact that I grew up surrounded by it, but I wholeheartedly believe that Mexican food is the easiest to cook. Many of the spices and flavor profiles replicate each other (lots of garlic, cumin, chilies, citrus flavors and cilantro), and really, just make something, wrap it in a tortilla and put some salsa on it. Boom. Mexican food. 😉  (My ancestors are shaking their fists at me right now.) I thought I’d share some of my healthy faves if you’re looking for create a feast this year. 

Tacos  1 of 1 4

At old town w liv

(At Coyote Cafe, one of our Mexican standards in Old Town. We also love Miguel’s.)

Enchiladas  1 of 1 6

Fish taco bar with house guacamole and fresh salsa. 

Margaritas! For extra pizazz, try these strawberry jalapeño margaritas. 

This fruit salad. It it’s a sweet side dish to complement all of the spicy and savory foods.

Fruit salad  1 of 1

The easiest Mexican rice you will ever make.

Same goes for the frijoles.

Brown rice horchata.

Enchiladas!! You can fill them with anything you like, but here’s my classic chicken recipe, sweet potato and black bean, and veggie. If you make the sauce from scratch, you will never go back. 

Classic sangria. (The tequila is the not-so-secret ingredient. Watch out for snacking on the fruit haha.)

Sangria  1 of 1 2

Some fun dessert ideas:

If you’re looking to keep it light, try these popsicles or this sorbet. If you’re going for it, I highly recommend this tres leches cake (THE BEST) or some sopapillas. 

Are you celebrating Cinco de Mayo? Any fun traditions? Have you taken a little one to Las Vegas? (Last time we went was for the PAC-12 tourney last year, and we took Liv when she was 4 months old!) I’d love any ideas for fun things to do. We will definitely be hanging out at the pool and eating gelato while watching the Bellagio fountains.

Hope you have a great night!

xoxo

Gina

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20 Comments

  1. Eva on May 4, 2015 at 3:33 pm

    Vegas is my hometown and here are some child-friendly ideas:

    Shark Reef
    Neon Boneyard
    Discovery Children’s Museum
    Springs Preserve

    Obviously, the pool at your hotel will be a big hit, I’m sure! There is also a great water park off the strip.

    • Fitnessista on May 4, 2015 at 4:19 pm

      these all sound like perfect options! thank you!!!

  2. Holli on May 4, 2015 at 3:44 pm

    No ideas for kid-friendly things but I’ll be in Vegas this weekend! My son is getting married <3 I'm over the moon excited!

    • Fitnessista on May 4, 2015 at 4:17 pm

      no way! that is so awesome!! congratulations to him!

  3. Erin @ Her Heartland Soul on May 4, 2015 at 3:49 pm

    Omg I want to eat all of this! Mexican food is my favorite!

    • Fitnessista on May 4, 2015 at 4:17 pm

      looooove mexican food

  4. Amanda @ Slimplify Life on May 4, 2015 at 4:03 pm

    Chips + guac, repeat x 5943. Lick guac bowl. The end.

    • Fitnessista on May 4, 2015 at 4:16 pm

      that’s really all you need

  5. Jill @ Champagne for Everyday on May 4, 2015 at 4:23 pm

    Yum, the fruit salad, margs, and sangria are top of my list!! Maybe I will just have a 100% sweet Cinco de Mayo this year…hehe

    xx Jill
    Latest Post – Naughty Girl Preppy: Cut off Denim and a Suit Jacket

  6. Music on May 4, 2015 at 4:51 pm

    We took our 5 year old to Vegas in December. She loved the M & M store where we let her make a mix of pink and purple candies. She also liked the arcade museum (off strip). The Freemont Street Experience was too loud for her, which I wasn’t expecting, so we didn’t stay long. Just long enough to get suckered into letting her take a picture with a rough looking Sponge Bob. 🙂

  7. Brittany on May 4, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    That sangria looks great! Love the 5th of May!

  8. Alex @ True Femme on May 4, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    My pre-school friendly Vegas ideas are the garden inside the Bellagio, the crepe/chocolate place at the Bellagio (the soufflé crepe is amazing!), the ice sculpture things (I think they’re in the Cosmopolitan or Aria), a gondola ride at the Venetian (not quite like Italy but close enough?), and the Shark Reef aquarium at Mandalay Bay. Hope you have a great time!!

  9. Heather@hungryforbalance on May 4, 2015 at 5:46 pm

    Oh my gosh! Now I want ALL THE MEXICAN FOOD!

  10. Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat on May 4, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    Ok, you have made me very hungry for dinner #2! To be honest, I kinda forgot that tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, but now that you’ve reminded me, I see lots of guac, salsa and veggies in my future! 🙂

  11. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious on May 4, 2015 at 8:36 pm

    I need five of those jalapeño margaritas. You have no idea what kind of week I’ve had!

  12. Linda @ forty dating. on May 5, 2015 at 3:09 am

    Love Mexican food, it is the most colorful and tasty of dishes, fills all of your senses.

  13. Courtney Bentley on May 5, 2015 at 5:15 am

    Ahh how fun! I miss Cinco De Mayo, I live in Thailand so I actually forgot! My husband and I have our anniversary on this day so we will go out for a nice dinner! Enjoy xo C

  14. Maria on May 5, 2015 at 8:19 am

    Cinco de Mayo is my favorite! In college, my roommates and I would make a potluck dinner equipped with homemade enchiladas, rice and margaritas and then head out to the bars afterward. Two of us are part Mexican, so the food was always authentic 🙂 Since then, my husband and I have gone out a few times to various restaurants but the food is never good and the margaritas are usually pre-made and watered down. We now stay home and do our own thing because the food there never disappoints 😉

  15. Tracy on May 5, 2015 at 11:17 am

    Mmmmm sangria! Mexican food is by far my favorite!!

    Vegas sounds like a fun getaway!

  16. Annie on May 5, 2015 at 1:02 pm

    If you do go downtown to the Neon Boneyard, definitely check out Downtown Container Park. It’s a little “village” made up of shops and restaurants in shipping containers. It also has the most glorious playground in the center, which Liv with love! If you end up there, try Pinche’s Tacos. That place is awesome!

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