We all love Taco Bell. I mean, a Dorito-shell taco at 2 a.m. has no shortage of happy feelings. So when you think of the fast food joint, you obviously don’t think of the most nutritious fare to ever exist. Burritos, chalupas, not to mention their crunch wrap supreme…these are pretty heavy menu items that we don’t necessarily think of as “healthy.”
So it’s a little ironic that Taco Bell has actually become known as one of the healthiest places to eat in America! Yes, you heard that right. And before you think we’re crazy, listen to this news.
Taco Bell recently revamped their menu to include more healthy, wholesome options for those of us watching our weight or thinking about our future.
It’s all thanks to Taco Bell’s dietician and developer Missy Nelson, who introduced their new Fresco style menu, which includes all low-calorie meals. In terms of this new healthy menu, it works in the same way Chipotle does, where you can choose whether you want to eliminate ingredients like dairy or rice, and customize your meal completely to your liking.
It doesn’t end there—their ingredient list is on a whole new level. For one, they now use cage-free eggs when preparing their meals, are attempting to cut out all artificial ingredients, and have even managed to reduce their sodium by 15 percent across the board. Additionally, the chain now also has an entire vegetarian menu with foods approved by the American Vegetarian Association. That’s a lot of healthy changes!
Ordering from their app? You still have all these options as you do in person—and there’s something new here too: Taco Bell as recently made some changes to their food phrasing to make it even more clear and easier than ever to understand what’s going in your food and to be healthy on the go.
However, for those of you who don’t go to Taco Bell to count your calories (we don’t blame ya), don’t fret. They also have their high-calorie Cantina menu, which includes all the delicious favorites and Taco Bell classics you might be looking for. You can also add on bacon, nacho cheese sauce, chipotle sauce—all your unhealthy options. They aren’t going away!
On a similar note, the awesome thing about Taco Bell’s switch to more health-conscious choices is that they aren’t tooting their own horn and suddenly calling themselves a healthy chain. They’re simply letting their customers know about the changes and letting us decide what we think.
“Us touting ourselves as a health halo—it’s not authentic and it’s not real,” Taco Bell spokesman Alec Boyle told FoodBeast.
Pretty classy of Taco Bell, huh? Wow, we never thought we’d say those two words in the same sentence!
Are you a Taco Bell fan? What do you think of Taco Bell’s switch over to healthy menus (but still giving everyone a choice on how they want to eat that day)? Do you think you’ll try any o their healthy items, or stick with the more heavy classics?