Healthy Options that aren't!
weeblex
Posts: 412 Member
We just stopped for quick munchies at Taco Bell on the way back from the movies, I grabbed a Crunchy Taco, and my wife went for the "Healthy" Fresco Bean Burrito..... they had the nutrition sheet there so we bought it home, and Taco bell has a different idea of healthy that I seem to
Fresco Bean Burrito
Calories 350
Sodium 990mg
Calories from Fat 70g
Total Fat 8g
Crunchy Beef Taco
Calories 160
Sodium 330mg
Calories from Fat 80g
Total Fat 10g
The Burrito was about twice the size but that is an insane amount of calories and sodium for the healthy option. I guess getting that "Calories from fat" down is what makes it healthy?
We're going to have to read the sheet before we order next time.
Anyone else find some not so healthy, healthy alternatives out there?
Fresco Bean Burrito
Calories 350
Sodium 990mg
Calories from Fat 70g
Total Fat 8g
Crunchy Beef Taco
Calories 160
Sodium 330mg
Calories from Fat 80g
Total Fat 10g
The Burrito was about twice the size but that is an insane amount of calories and sodium for the healthy option. I guess getting that "Calories from fat" down is what makes it healthy?
We're going to have to read the sheet before we order next time.
Anyone else find some not so healthy, healthy alternatives out there?
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Replies
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Unfortunatley, as you experienced, with many chain restaurants the "healthy" menu choices are more about marketing than nutrition.0
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What about the protein? Fiber? Vitamins?
The 160 calorie taco isn't going to fill me up at all. I'd need like 3. The burrito however might do the trick. The goal is not to eat as little as possible.0 -
As long as you have a diet soda it's fine. :happy:0
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The fresco items at Taco Bell have salsa instead of cheese and sour cream. Easy way to cut calories by getting rid of all that fat, but usually salsa adds quite a bit of sodium. 350 calories isn't that terrible for a meal in my opinion.0
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As long as you have a diet soda it's fine. :happy:0
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Sorry to break it to you, but there is no such thing as "healthy" fast food. I'm not going to tell you not to eat it, but even if the macros were not terrible, the quality of ingredients used at most chains barely qualifies them as human-edible, in my opinion. I mean, this is the restaurant that got busted for advertising their taco filling as "beef' when it didn't meet the FDA requirements: FDA requirements are that to call something "beef" it must contain at least 36% beef... testing on taco bell's beef found 35% or less... seriously, you are going to EAT that stuff?! I don't know about you, but even eating "beef" that is only 36% beef sounds frightening to me. The rest is typically refuse/waste products from corn/soy processing. Yay!
If you're going to eat unhealthy, just go to 5 Guys and get a burger instead... at least it's made out of real food, and is damn tasty. Probably better for you as well. Also, don't eat anywhere that doesn't publish all of their ingredients and allergen info. If you look at the allergen info and see "soy" in everything, then that is a huge warning sign regarding the quality of their food.
Just my 2c.0 -
Sorry to break it to you, but there is no such thing as "healthy" fast food. I'm not going to tell you not to eat it, but even if the macros were not terrible, the quality of ingredients used at most chains barely qualifies them as human-edible, in my opinion. I mean, this is the restaurant that got busted for advertising their taco filling as "beef' when it didn't meet the FDA requirements: FDA requirements are that to call something "beef" it must contain at least 36% beef... testing on taco bell's beef found 35% or less... seriously, you are going to EAT that stuff?! I don't know about you, but even eating "beef" that is only 36% beef sounds frightening to me. The rest is typically refuse/waste products from corn/soy processing. Yay!
If you're going to eat unhealthy, just go to 5 Guys and get a burger instead... at least it's made out of real food, and is damn tasty. Probably better for you as well. Also, don't eat anywhere that doesn't publish all of their ingredients and allergen info. If you look at the allergen info and see "soy" in everything, then that is a huge warning sign regarding the quality of their food.
Just my 2c.
CAN I GET AN AMEN!! Preach it Bro! Dead on.0 -
Sorry to break it to you, but there is no such thing as "healthy" fast food. I'm not going to tell you not to eat it, but even if the macros were not terrible, the quality of ingredients used at most chains barely qualifies them as human-edible, in my opinion. I mean, this is the restaurant that got busted for advertising their taco filling as "beef' when it didn't meet the FDA requirements: FDA requirements are that to call something "beef" it must contain at least 36% beef... testing on taco bell's beef found 35% or less... seriously, you are going to EAT that stuff?! I don't know about you, but even eating "beef" that is only 36% beef sounds frightening to me. The rest is typically refuse/waste products from corn/soy processing. Yay!
If you're going to eat unhealthy, just go to 5 Guys and get a burger instead... at least it's made out of real food, and is damn tasty. Probably better for you as well. Also, don't eat anywhere that doesn't publish all of their ingredients and allergen info. If you look at the allergen info and see "soy" in everything, then that is a huge warning sign regarding the quality of their food.
Just my 2c.
Never eat out anywhere that doesn't publish their ingredients, in this state that is EVERY non-chain restaurant since it is not required. Since every chain restaurant uses processed crap then that has ruled out every restaurant in the state.
There goes eating out totally anywhere in the state.
I should buy the food at the store, oh no, they have preservatives and chemical additives.
I know, I'll grow my own and run a farm, but the ground my house was built on was used as a farm so probably has evil chemicals in in so what I grow and the animals I raise will be infected.
I'm back to water, but I'm going to have a tough time hitting my minimum 1200 calories with that. :bigsmile:
The original post wasn't really about the healthiness of fast food, more about the deceptive marketing?0 -
If I do eat Taco bell I will always opt for the Crunchy taco.
and Pinto's, love those.
Sometimes you have to do the research before
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Sorry to break it to you, but there is no such thing as "healthy" fast food. I'm not going to tell you not to eat it, but even if the macros were not terrible, the quality of ingredients used at most chains barely qualifies them as human-edible, in my opinion. I mean, this is the restaurant that got busted for advertising their taco filling as "beef' when it didn't meet the FDA requirements: FDA requirements are that to call something "beef" it must contain at least 36% beef... testing on taco bell's beef found 35% or less... seriously, you are going to EAT that stuff?! I don't know about you, but even eating "beef" that is only 36% beef sounds frightening to me. The rest is typically refuse/waste products from corn/soy processing. Yay!
If you're going to eat unhealthy, just go to 5 Guys and get a burger instead... at least it's made out of real food, and is damn tasty. Probably better for you as well. Also, don't eat anywhere that doesn't publish all of their ingredients and allergen info. If you look at the allergen info and see "soy" in everything, then that is a huge warning sign regarding the quality of their food.
Just my 2c.
My feelings exatcly0 -
I don't eat at places like that usually. If I am going to Taco Bell (Maybe once every 6 months), I'll get that cheesy gordita. XD
But I understand what you mean. I work downtown and sometimes I might want to go out and grab a snack. It's tough to find a place with snacks lower than 400-500 calories.0 -
Moderation is really the key here, you know. If it is something that you enjoy, and you only have occasionally, you will not have a problem. Fat is not bad for you, but an excessive amount is.
The issue really shows up when people go overboard and eat this stuff all the time. I am not a Taco Bell fan, or even most fast food places, for that matter. I have worked at many of them and seen what goes into their foods. It's not so pretty, nor is the process that they go to in preparing it.0 -
I'm low carb and I'm scared to eat out now. A Fuddruckers 1/2 burger with swiss cheese, bacon, and no bun, with some of their counter mustard, almost put me out of ketosis. I don't know if it was the beef or something in the mustard, but the stick was pale pink next morning for the first time since I started checking it, I gained two pounds of water weight out of nowhere that is still hanging around days later, and I've been plagued with a bad mood and cravings ever since.0
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As long as you have a diet soda it's fine. :happy:
:laugh:0 -
Like someone said, if your going to do fast food - do a place that uses fresh ingrediants0
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Did anyone read the original post, it was using an example to show the "Healthy Option" can be worse for you than the standard menu, not just a reason to post about where to eat?
I give up0 -
Yeah, it's the whole "beef" thing... the corn/soy fillers they use add a bunch of carbs that they aren't required to disclose on the nutrition info (also drastically lowers protein content). Lots of jacked up stuff regarding nutrient labeling, e.g. a cup of baking splenda is listed as 0 cal, but actually contains ~100 cals worth of maltodextrin, a high GI sugar. Good thing we have the FDA looking out for us, and not for the interests of Monsanto and big pharma! :PI'm low carb and I'm scared to eat out now. A Fuddruckers 1/2 burger with swiss cheese, bacon, and no bun, with some of their counter mustard, almost put me out of ketosis. I don't know if it was the beef or something in the mustard, but the stick was pale pink next morning for the first time since I started checking it, I gained two pounds of water weight out of nowhere that is still hanging around days later, and I've been plagued with a bad mood and cravings ever since.0 -
Just to play devil's advocate, I'm going to say you are comparing apples to oranges.
The fresco bean burrito has 20 calories and 2 grams of fat fewer than the regular bean burrito.
The fresco crunchy taco has 30 calories and 2 grams of fat fewer than the regular crunchy taco.0 -
Yeah, it's the whole "beef" thing... the corn/soy fillers they use add a bunch of carbs that they aren't required to disclose on the nutrition info (also drastically lowers protein content). Lots of jacked up stuff regarding nutrient labeling, e.g. a cup of baking splenda is listed as 0 cal, but actually contains ~100 cals worth of maltodextrin, a high GI sugar. Good thing we have the FDA looking out for us, and not for the interests of Monsanto and big pharma! :PI'm low carb and I'm scared to eat out now. A Fuddruckers 1/2 burger with swiss cheese, bacon, and no bun, with some of their counter mustard, almost put me out of ketosis. I don't know if it was the beef or something in the mustard, but the stick was pale pink next morning for the first time since I started checking it, I gained two pounds of water weight out of nowhere that is still hanging around days later, and I've been plagued with a bad mood and cravings ever since.
Exactly!0
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