If there’s one type of ethic cuisine Americans love to eat, it’s Mexican food. One out of every 10 restaurants in the United States sells Mexican food, making it the most popular style of international cuisine in the country. In fact, there are nearly 60,000 Mexican restaurants dispersed across the American landscape.
Need further proof of the popularity of Mexican food in the United States? The invention of Tex-Mex (which occurred in the 1940s) is one good example of integration of American and Mexican culture and fusion of food. Furthermore, tortillas have been outselling hot dog buns since 2010 and salsa has become the top condiment nationwide, surpassing even ketchup and mayo.
Americans are chowing down on Mexican food at home. Mexican food continues to be the most popular ethnic food segment in the United States with a 42 percent share of ethnic food sales. Additionally, more than 70 percent of American households use Mexican food and ingredients.
Mexican food can be the perfect choice for big events. Whether you’re planning a big wedding or quinceanera, Mexican food offers many event menu ideas and can take some of the stress out of planning.
There are more than 2.4 million weddings held in the U.S. every year and 50 percent of women find planning their wedding to be more stressful than they imagined. In addition, 56 percent of brides are most interested in providing excellent food at their wedding.
With plenty of variety and flexibility, Mexican food offers foodies of all tastes something unique and delicious. Event planners looking for event menu ideas can take the stress out of meal planning by offering guests new, bold flavors as well as a memorable meal. A taco bar is a great way to offer some of that variety and it’s sure to be a hit considering that Americans consume more than four billion tacos a year.
There are also plenty of nutritional benefits that make Mexican food a good choice for event menu ideas too. Here are four nutritional benefits you can gain from eating Mexican food.
- Lowered Blood Pressure and Cholesterol: The spiciness in peppers like jalapenos and habaneros is full of capsaicin. While capsaicin is what gives peppers their burn, it can also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. If you’ve heard the old wives tale about eating spicy food when you’re sick, it’s because there’s truth to it. Eating foods with capsaicin improves your circulation and relieves congestion.
- Fiber: Though some health guidelines differ, nearly all of them recommend a healthy dose of fiber every day. National recommendations are 30-38 grams a day for men and 25 grams a day for women. Other guidelines suggest 14 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories in a diet. Regardless of the numbers, Americans should be loading up on fiber. Fortunately for fans of Mexican food, beans are a staple and beans are chock-full of fiber. Black beans and pinto beans are high in fiber with 20 grams and 30 grams per cup respectively. These two are a preferable option over refried beans, which have 12 grams of fiber per cup.
- Nutrients: Another benefit of enjoying your favorite Mexican food is that it’s packed with nutrients. If you’re a big fan of tacos, you can enjoy them even more with the knowledge that the lettuce, tomatoes and onions packed in your tacos are full of important nutrients such as vitamin C and vitamin A. Don’t forget avocados, which are a staple of Mexican cuisine and are full of vitamin C, vitamin B-6 and magnesium. Loading up on veggies on will do your body a lot of good.
- Protein: Protein is important for muscle and tissue health and gives you energy. Most, if not all, Mexican dishes contain meat and with beef, carne asada, pork and chicken often on a menu, there’s no shortage of protein options. Lean meats such as ground pork and beef and chicken are healthier and still can be very tasty.
With plenty of health benefits and variety, Mexican food is the perfect option when looking for event menu ideas. Brides and grooms and moms and dads can rest easy knowing that offering Mexican food will help ensure a memorable experience for all.