What started out as a taco stand quickly became one of the nation’s largest fast food chains. Taco Bell has been serving its customers with Tex-Mex food that is ready in minutes for decades.
Their menu features everything from hard shell tacos to burritos. If you are wondering if Taco Bell’s food is made with quality ingredients, you may be in for a surprise.
Fast food is usually considered “bad for you” and has the reputation of being cheap and second class quality. Is Taco Bell’s food decent quality?
Taco Bell’s food is quality as they have made changes to their ingredients in the past years so their food can be healthier for their guests.
That beef mixture used in their tacos and burritos is actually claimed to be 100 percent USDA premium beef. On their website, Taco Bell explains that the process of making the meat is similarly prepared to how you would make taco meat at your home.
It is seasoned with 7 authentic seasonings and spices for that familiar taste many people crave. According to Taco Bell: “We use 100 percent USDA premium beef in our seasoned beef. We prepare it much the same way you prepare taco meat at home: after simmering, it is drained of excess fat and pre-seasoned with our signature blend of 7 authentic seasonings and spices. It is then packaged with added water to lock in the flavor and for added moisture, and then shipped to our restaurants.
Each of our restaurants prepares our beef following the same steps – ensuring that you’re getting the same great tasting seasoned beef, no matter which of our restaurants you visit.”
Along with this, Taco Bell also uses cage-free eggs and seeks to cut out artificial ingredients in their food. They even have reduced their sodium by 15 percent across their whole menu.
Now, some menu items are still options that won’t be so good for you, like the Doritos Locos taco for instance. When you order this delicious taco you know full well that it will be unhealthy.
What Taco Bell wants to do is provided their customers with other options that are healthier to eat. Still, it is safe to say that Taco Bell is one of the healthiest fast food chains around.
This title comes by the ingredients they choose to use as well as having healthier options for their customers who strive to eat better.
Is Taco Bell Really That Bad For You?
Ok, saying that, you may be thinking you can eat Taco Bell every day now since it is “healthier” than other fast food guys out there and be just fine. Well, hate to burst your bubble but there are ways Taco Bell is bad for you too.
Being a restaurant that sells quality ingredients, is Taco Bell really that bad for you?
Taco Bell can be bad for you if you eat it a lot and in excess. Like other fried, cheesy, or beefy foods, you shouldn’t indulge in them every day but rather periodically.
Although Taco Bell has cut back on the sodium in their food, it still contains a lot of it as well as sugar in some foods. Something else that is in preserved meats and cheese is nitrates. Nitrates can worsen depression.
When you have a habit of eating bad foods, this can hinder the way you think. So not only do these foods feel bad in our gut but can also be bad for our brains.
When you eat fast food, the meals don’t contain a lot of fiber or nutrients meaning they move through your digestive systems faster. This accounts for that feeling of still being hungry even after a couple of tacos.
When eating at Taco Bell consistently, you are increasing your chances of having a stroke or heart disease. Be careful of all those saturated fats you are putting into your body.
Thankfully like we said earlier, Taco Bell has taken measures to provide those guests who want healthier options with the food they need.
They say, “While they’re filled with the ingredients fans love the most (think: warm tortillas, melty cheese, juicy tomatoes, crunchy lettuce, and more), there are a few options you may want to skip.”
Realistically, if you resist the urge to keep eating those yummy tacos and only have them every once in a while, you can enjoy Taco Bell’s food without worrying about your health too much.
Is Taco Bell The Healthiest?
So, some things about Taco Bell’s food aren’t all that great. But when we compare the taco fast food chain with other fast food places, we find that they are paving the way for healthier menu items.
Out of all the fast food restaurants is Taco Bell the healthiest?
Taco Bell is one of the healthiest fast food chains with its customizable menu that can work well for any diet.
Taco Bell states that 75 percent of the menu is under 500 calories. So if you can resist the urge to eat “just a few more”, you will be well on your way to eating healthier at Taco Bell.
Also, by ordering your meals fresco style, you can be eating healthier. Fresco style substitutes the cheese, sour cream, and guac with fresh pico de gallo and cuts down the fat in your meal.
Vegetarians can also eat at Taco Bell since they offer meals without meat.
If you are looking to order healthier options at Taco Bell, consider the veggie Power bowl which has rice, black beans, cheese, romaine lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo, and creamy avocado ranch sauce. You can skip the sour cream on this one to reduce fat and even add some steak or chicken for extra protein.
Then there’s the chicken soft taco fresco style. It’s tasty and better for you with only 150 calories when it is made fresco style.
Lastly, let’s talk about the bean burrito. Beans are good for your heart so this burrito is actually good for you.
Try ordering it with pico de gallo instead of red sauce and you will do yourself a favor with less sodium intake and more vegetables.
See, you can be healthier at Taco Bell.
Final Thoughts
Taco Bell prides itself on serving their guests with quality food. They choose good ingredients and even offer a “healthier” selection of menu items so you can stay on your diet and still enjoy your delicious Taco Bell meals.
It’s hard to choose between tasty and healthy so why choose? As long as you eat it in moderation you can have both at Taco Bell.
Choose From their fresco style meals for healthy alternatives and know you are getting quality food at Taco Bell.
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