TacoBell Lovers This One is For You

If you are anything like me, or most Americans you have a love hate relationship with fast food. TacoBell in particular. There is truly nothing better then going to fulfill your late night cravings with a crunch wrap supreme! Since I am such a lover of the bell, I will allow myself to have it as my "cheat" meal every now and again. I had gotten to the point where I was eating it almost once a week, and so I realized maybe I needed to make some better decisions. That is until one day I came across an article labeled "TacoBell is the HEALTHIEST fast food restaurant" Say what????? Before I could really believe what I was reading I had to do a little bit more detective work. And on my hunt to prove that my favorite unhealthy craving spot could actually be healthy, I found a few things; 

1. They offer vegetarian options that are certified by the American Vegetarian Association
2. They offer a low calorie menu called the "Fresco Menu"
3. They offer high protein options called the "Cantina Menu"
4. TacoBell has a dietition and product developer, Missy Nelson whom transformed their menu making it more healthy 
5.Missy has taken out all artificial ingredients, switched to cage-free eggs and decreased sodium in all menu items by 15% 
6. TacoBell plans to lower their sodium across all menu items by another 10% 

The best part of all of this? You now have options to eat healthier when other establishments are closed. I have ran into the issue of losing track of time and eating a late dinner. After 9 or 10pm on a weekday your options are slim to none. I usually (and like most others in this situation) will go to my last resort of fast food. Knowing that their is a fast food joint that is consciously putting healthier items on their menu is a nice way to reward our community. In general, most people are trying to eat healthier and create a healthier lifestyle for themselves. It is so much easier said than done, when you have unhealthy options available at a low cost and nearly 24/7. I always said I wanted to open up a spot that served healthy options like salads and wraps that was open 24 hours. I suppose the food industries attempt for something healthier would be Subway but as we all know that isn't the "healthy" option either. 

I don't want to say I commend Taco Bell for taking steps in the right direction for their customers, but its a lot better then offering salads that are over 1,000 calories or putting apple slices on the menu and saying this is our healthy option (cough cough). So maybe I will give them a pat on the back for a job well done. Or maybe I'm just ecstatic that I can still eat a few tacos late at night without all the guilt. Just so you understand, and don't find me insane! 

---

So thanks, Taco Bell for giving me a piece of mind. We so often get wrapped up in the calories or grams of carbs or fat that we neglect other components like sugar and sodium. Sugar and sodium the two "S" that you should always pay attention to. In my busy lifestyle I am often running around and eating things on the go. I was guilty, for awhile might I add, of chugging a protein shake or eating a protein bar and skipping a meal. What I didn't realize was that I was really just pumping my body up with sugars, sodium and carbs that would make me feel full short term and give me a little extra boost and then a crash soon to follow. And I have found even another reason to love Tbell for this exact reason! Peep below: 

Once again, Taco Bell for the win.