Mexican food varies widely by region due to climate, geography, and cultural influences. It combines native pre-Columbian foods like corn, tomatoes, peppers, and chocolate with European imports like beef, pork, chicken, rice, and onions introduced by the Spanish. Popular dishes include tacos, enchiladas, tamales, and mole, but regional specialties exist like seafood dishes in coastal areas and goat in northern Mexico. Overall, Mexican cuisine is renowned for its variety of flavors, vibrant presentations, and healthful combination of proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

1. Nation of America [Culture]: Food

3. Mexican food is based on pre-Columbian traditions (Aztecs and Maya) and culinary trends introduced by Spanish colonists.

4. The conquistadores combined the imported diet of rice, beef, pork, chicken, wine, garlic and onions with the native pre-Columbian food that included maize, tomato, vanilla, avocado, papaya, pineapple, chili pepper, beans, squash, sweet potato, peanut and turkey

5. Mexican food can varies from region to region because of the climate, geography, ethnic indigenous diversities and the influence of Spaniards

6. The north is known for its beef, goat and ostrich production

7. Central is known from its barbacoa, pozole, menudo, tamales, and carnitas."Chocolate" originated from Mexico's Aztec cuisine

10. Southeastern part is known for its spicy vegetable and chicken-based dishes

11. Because of its geographical location food is Caribbean influenced

12. Seafood is common in the states that border the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico

13. The most internationally recognized dishes include chocolate, tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos, tamales and mole among others. Regional dishes include mole poblano, chiles en nogada and chalupas from Puebla; cabrito and machaca from Monterrey, cochinitapibil from Yucatán, Tlayudas from Oaxaca, some sea food “a la Veracruzana” as well as barbacoa, chilaquiles, milanesas, and more …

14. Resource: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico#Cuisine Google Search http://www.iccjournal.biz/StudentScholars/Undergraduate/history_of_mexican_cuisine.htm