It’s time to celebrate! Coming up on May 5th is Cinco de Mayo, a day we honor the culture and experiences of Americans of Mexican ancestry. On the menu — great music, massive margaritas, and muy delicioso meals!

But along with all the holiday fun, there is also the temptation to overindulge in less than healthy food and drink. Here are my 5 tips to ensure a festive, slimmer Cinco de Mayo, along with a MUFA-rich, party-pleasing guacamole recipe guaranteed to be a hit!

Tip #1 Skip the chips! Those mindless dips into the chip basket can cost you upwards of 500 calories…and that’s before the main meal is served!

Tip #2 Go for grilled lean meats and/or beans: Chicken breast, seafood and beans are naturally lower in saturated fat than red meat.

Tip #3 Go naked! Slash hundreds of calories from your burrito/taco/enchilada simply by asking to have your meal prepared as a salad, sans wrap!

Tip #4 Limit your drinks! One 10 oz. margarita has more than 700 calories! That’s a lot of calories to work off, even if you’re dancing the night away.

Tip #5 Make your own leaner version of a Mexican feast at home:
Trim down your taco by skipping the hard (fried) shell in favor of a soft taco (whole wheat, if possible)
Rethink the traditional Mexican rice and beans: Choose pinto or black beans over refried, and brown rice instead of white!
Say adios to sour cream! Substitute low-fat Greek yogurt

Check out my simple, homemade guacamole recipe below!

Ingredients:
3 avocados
2 Tbsp. lime juice
½ Tbsp. garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: ¼ cup red onions (chopped finely)

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a food processer or blender until desired consistency. Cover and chill for ~15-30 minutes.