Eating healthy in Cozumel

[brnt999]

Soon I will be leaving for Cozumel for 2 weeks. I am trying to eat healthy and not get fat. For me that means low carbs and lean meat, fruit, and vegetables. When I think of Mexican food I can't think of anything thats low carb. Anyone know of a restuarant in Cozumel that serves healthy food?

 

[diverokc]

I am on low carb at home but when im on vacation I go off my diet. Ive lost about 225lbs. WHen in Cozumel go to the open market and buy some fresh fruit and veggies. Also you can always get salads. There is a lot of stuff in Cozumel you can get. Rotisserie chicken and stuff like that. Also I have ordered fajitas just don't get tortillas. I could do low carb in coz, but with diving everyday I burn off all the beans and tortillas.

 

[Skittl1321]

I lost 3 pounds on my vacation
I didn't really try to eat healthy though, just ate what I normally do. I was only at an all inclusive but every meal there was lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. I pretty much only had fruit for breakfast. We went out to dinner one night, and it would have been easy to eat only fish and vegetables.
And most tortillas in Mexico are corn tortillas, instead of flour tortillas (common in the USA, maybe not in Canada) which are much better for you. Avoid things that are fried.

 

[Augustus]

good option is le cusine on av 11 and 5th next door to Ego Gym. They have a FB link https://www.facebook.com/CuisineCozumel

 

[Dave Dillehay]

It is actually La Cusine and is at the Corner of Calle 11 and agenda 5. It is so health they won't even sell you a diet coke.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[mikeycanuk]

While we like to eat organic and the like this place looks too granola roller to me. Where's the BEEF?

Personally I diet 3 months out from vacation and usually get to single digits bodyfat. When I get down there...well it's time to EAT!

 

[sharky60]

Rock-n-java has many healthy options on the menu for breakfast, lunch & dinner. even whole grain items.

In fact, you can eat quite healthy in Cozumel. I know I eat much more healthy when I'm on the island than I do when I'm home...sad, but true.

Fresh veggies and fruit are everywhere. I don't think I've ever been to any restaurant for breakfast where I couldn't get a fresh fruit plate & yogurt (usually with granola, but you could skip that to avoid the carbs, it's usually served on the side)

Mexican food you get in Coz is NOT the Mexican food you get at home...It's not Tex/Mex with a lot of heavy chili sauce on it. Because of it's location on the Caribbean, the food from the Yucatan is heavily influenced by Caribbean fare and is not as heavy as it is in Central or Northern Mexico. There are MANY Mexican dishes that don't have tortillas involved at all & can be found on most restaurants around town.

You can get fresh fish grilled, mojo de ajo style (garlic fish), with grilled veggies, skip the rice if you are that hung up on carbs, or substitute it for beans. This dish is very traditional to the region and available almost everywhere on the island.

grilled chicken can be found everywhere as well, for another low fat meat choice. I pretty much try to avoid beef on the island, I've just not had much luck in that department.

I'm not a huge seafood eater & usually only eat it when on vacation for the most part, I generally live off of chicken dishes when on the island.

When I first started coming to Cozumel, black beans where on almost every dish, usually frijoles (refried), but black beans just the same. It seems like most places now serve pintos. not sure why the change came about.

I always figured black beans were the staple here because if it's location & I assume that it is an "Amiericanization" thing that has made folks move to pintos...just because that is what most people from the U.S. are used to...I prefer black beans.

Habaneros used to be the standard for pico de galio in the island as well, because the Scotch Bonnet is the traditional chili of the Caribbean.

 

[Christi]

You can get lean protein and veggies at just about ANY restaurant in Cozumel. Just because it's MX doesn't mean everything is rice, beans and tortilllas or that all we have is Mexican food for that matter. Just like anywhere esle in the world, we have international food options. In fact, other than the dedicated taco and fast food places, I can't think of a SINGLE restaurant where you cannot get something healthy to eat.

If you don't see it on the menu (and most places do have these options on the menu), just ask for grilled (a la parilla or a la plancha) chicken (pechuga de pollo) or fish (pescado) and grilled (a la parilla) or steamed (al vapor) veggies (verduras). For breakfast, I can get a veggie omelette with egg whites anywhere I go. Most waiters will speak English so you can ask in English, but just in case:

"Quisiero pechuga o pescado a la parilla or a la plancha y verduras al vapor o a la parilla (con ajo)."
"I would like grilled chicken or fish and steamed or grilled vegetables (with garlic if you like garlic, popular option on menus here)."

"Omelette de verduras sin jemma (yemma) por favor."
Egg white omelette with veggies please.

"Claras" are egg whites if you want to ask for an egg white omelette.

Rock n Java
Le Chef
La Cuisine
La Choza
Kinta
Kondessa
Buccanos
La Parilla Mission
La Candela
La Perlita
Del Sur
Sorrissi
Guidos
Rolandis
Camilos
Wet Wendys
Thirsty Cougar
Sushi Midori
etc.
etc.
etc.

Those are just a few that come to mind where I regularly can get something healthy.

 

[halocline]

I think the lionfish ceviche at La Perlita is pretty healthy, and damn tasty.

 

[mstevens]

I think the lionfish ceviche at La Perlita is pretty healthy, and damn tasty.

Healthy for you and healthy for the reef!