Skinny Tacos

The skinny series....you asked for it, so here it is! It seems so difficult to indulge in our favorite foods and cocktails and keep it low cal, but the truth is - you can do it! Rethinking how to make my favorite foods has been a fun challenge for me. I'm currently 27 years-old and I've been able to maintain my weight since high school. I know what you're thinking..."oh you just have good genes"..Wrong! 

My metabolism actually slowed down significantly my senior year of high school and that was really hard for me. Instead of reaching for that third slice of pizza and a brownie to go with it, I had to sub my cravings for a salad. 

I became really obsessive with my weight around that time. I worked my summers as a life guard and definitely felt the pressure to maintain a trim figure. Most of my coworkers were on the swim team during the year, which meant they had perfectly chiseled abs and arms that I envied. 

During that time, I knew if I wanted drastic results with my body, I had to dramatically change the way I was eating. This is when I started cooking..ALOT. I did research on healthy vs non-healthy foods and began experimenting with various combinations of a small list of food and oils I found on the internet. I didn't use cookbooks or magazines, I just started playing. 

It's been almost 10 years now, and I have come up with a giant list of my own skinny recipes. I have come to realize that you don't have to sacrifice flavor to achieve a perfectly balanced and low calorie meal.

Over the next several months, with my wedding approaching, I will be sharing my 'Skinny Series' with you all. I'll be publishing healthy recipes and cocktails that take 30 minutes or less to make with few ingredients. Please let me know if you have any requests for a meal you love that could be skinnier. I love the challenge!

Start by adding chopped garlic, diced red onion, shrimp and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Next, add taco seasoning mix and fresh cilantro.

Cook the shrimp until bright pink and remove from heat.

On a bed of whole romaine, add shrimp down the spine. Top with a small amount of grated cheese, chopped cilantro and salsa. Instead of sour cream, use 1 tbsp or so of plain greek yogurt to add a little tang.

Serv Size: 4-5 tacos

Ingredients:

1 lb of shrimp

Taco Seasoning mix**

Romain hearts

1-2 tsp lemon juice (based on your preference)

1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro

1/4 cup of chopped red onion

1 tsp chopped garlic

Shredded cheese for topping

Taco Seasoning mix: (make ahead)

1/4 tsp salt

1 tbsp smoked paprika

1 tbsp cumin

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:

Over medium heat, begin adding garlic, chopped onion and shrimp to an olive oil coated pan. (Use spray olive oil to save on calories) Add lemon juice and toss. Follow by adding half of your chopped cilantro mixture to the pan. Next add the taco seasoning mix and stir until it is evenly coating the shrimp. Once the shrimp is bright pink (about 8-10 minutes) take the pan off of the burner and set aside.

Arrange your washed romaine hearts on a plate. Add 4-5 shrimp to each piece. One filled romain heart will serve as one taco. This recipe makes 4-5 tacos. Finish by sprinkling shredded cheese and the remaining amount of cilantro. Serve with a small side of salsa and plain greek yogurt.

Want to pair this with an equally skinny cocktail? Try my skinny margarita recipe!