Cinco de Mayo: Fun Facts and Tips for a Kidney-Friendly Fiesta

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico! This special day is the remembrance of Mexico’s victory over France in 1862 at the Battle of Puebla. According to Raul Ramos in NBC News, Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla, “is a moment where Mexico as a young nation rallied to defend itself” (1).  Mexico’s victory symbolized its ability to protect itself against a strong and powerful nation and gave citizens pride for their country (2).

Surprisingly, Cinco de Mayo has roots in American history too. According to David Hayes-Bautista, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the University of California Los Angeles, the celebration on the 5th of May began among Americans in California in the 19th century during the U.S. Civil War when the Confederacy was moving closer to California. According to Hayes-Bautista, Mexico’s defeat of France at the Battle of Puebla inspired Latinos in California to join the Union army and navy.

Today, in the U.S. Cinco de Mayo has become a day of celebration, a day to enjoy Mexican food and beverages with friends and family. Although many traditional Mexican foods are high in potassium and phosphorus, that does not mean delicious ethnic cuisine cannot be enjoyed in a kidney friendly fashion! Here are several recipes from DaVita.com to help you have a fiesta on Cinco de Mayo. Salud!

Appetizers 

• A-maze-ing Bean Dip
• Flour Tortilla Chips
• No Tomato Salsa
• Pineapple Salsa
• Huevos Rancheros
• Pineapple-Sweet Onion Salsa with Tortilla Chips
• Sweet and Spicy Tortilla Chips
• Jicama Fabulous

Tacos 

• Fish Tacos
• Terrific Tacos
• Shrimp Tacos
• Authentic Steak Tacos
• Taco Pasta Salad
• Soft Tacos with Mexican Seasoning

Burritos

• Beef Burritos
• Beef Chipotle Burritos
• Breakfast Burrito

Enchiladas  

• Chicken Enchiladas
• Easy Chicken Enchiladas
• Enchilada Sauce
• Hearty Breakfast Burritos with Pineapple Jalapeno Salsa

Fajitas

• Chicken Fajitas
• Chicken Fajitas with Pineapple Salsa
• Fantastic Pork Fajitas

Chile, Soups, and Stews

• Firehouse Chili
• Chile Colorado
• Chile Colorado Sauce (Basic Red Chili Sauce)
• Green Chili Stew
• Yucatan Lime Soup

Tortillas

• Tortillas
• Tortilla Rollups
• Tortilla Wraps

To make your own tortillas see: Corn Tortillas and Lower-Phosphorus Flour Tortilla

Chicken (pollo)  

• Lime and Cilantro Chicken Dinner
• Tex-Mex Wings

Fish (pescado)

• Cilantro-Lime Cod
• Grilled Mexican Swordfish Fillets
• Fiesta Tilapia Ceviche
• Southwest Tuna Salad

Sausage 

• Mexican Chorizo Sausage
• Easy Chorizo
• Tex-Mex Sausage
• Chorizo and Egg Tortilla

Rice (arroz) 

• Mexican Rice
• Spanish Rice

Pork

• Southwestern Posole

Beef

• South of the Border Meatballs
• Southwestern Style Stuffed Bell Peppers

Desserts  

• Arroz Con Leche (Rice with Milk)
• Apple Tostada

Visit DaVita.com for more Mexican inspired kidney-friendly recipes!

1. Resources:

   Reyes, R. A. (2016, May 5). No, Cinco de Mayo Is Not Mexican Independence Day- Here’s What It Is. Retrieved April 13, 2017, from http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/no-cinco-de-mayo-not-mexican-independence-day-here-s-n567041

   History.com Staff (2010). Cinco de Mayo. Retrieved April 13, 2017, from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cinco-de-mayo