Changing Cheeses

• Although one of the easiest ways to reduce the calories in your tacos is to skip piling on the gooey cheese, you don't have to pass on the cheese completely. Grab the sharpest cheddar you can find and grate it yourself. Using a high-quality sharp cheese lets you use less of it without losing the flavor you crave. Alternatively, try a reduced-fat cheese made from skim or lowfat milk.

Switching Shells

• You can have four small corn tortillas for fewer calories than two large flour tortillas. Corn tortillas also are lower in fat and higher in fiber. If you want to cut calories more dramatically, lose the shells in favor of a crisp leaf of lettuce. Much like the lettuce wraps served in many Asian restaurants, using lettuce as a taco shell offers a satisfying crispness and a tasty contrast between the cool lettuce and the warm filling. Choose lettuce sturdy enough to handle the fillings, such as iceberg, leaf or romaine.

Leaner Proteins

• Swap greasy ground beef for leaner meats to lighten up your tacos without sacrificing flavor. If you can't picture your taco without the texture of ground meat, choose the leanest beef or ground turkey available. Better alternatives include lean steak, chicken or pork. Grill the protein with bold seasonings such as cumin, garlic, oregano and cayenne pepper to add zesty flavor without piling on calories. When you make fish tacos, switch battered, fried fish with grilled fish or shrimp to save fat and calories.

Lighter Toppings

• Loading tacos with heavy toppings such as full-fat sour cream and refried beans is a surefire way to break the calorie bank. Replace refried beans with fresh black or pinto beans, which add protein and fiber without the high calorie count of their refried counterparts. Pile on low-calorie vegetables such as shredded lettuce, onions and tomatoes, fresh herbs such as cilantro, sliced avocado and low-fat sour cream or fat-free plain Greek yogurt. If you’re feeling adventurous, try topping your taco with a zesty citrus or vinegar-based slaw. Many types of tacos, most notably fish tacos, skip cheese in favor of a flavorful coleslaw.