TACO BELL: SOFT TACO SUPREME (BEEF)
SAVE: 31 CALORIES, 10 G FAT, 5 G SAT. FAT
It seems I hear ads for “99-cent” tacos a lot. Working as a caterer and knowing the cost of food, it always makes me wonder how in the world restaurants can make money with that sales strategy. Granted, anything that draws a crowd and makes them thirsty enough to purchase a $2 soft drink is likely to help profits, but I know a lot of budget-conscious consumers who go and buy just the tacos.
After some careful research, I can see why they are so popular—and how they are likely quite profitable after all. In looking at the company’s nutritional data, I found out that there are only 11 grams of protein in an entire taco. When you consider that 1 ounce of lean beef has about 5 or 6 grams of protein and 1 ounce of low-fat cheese has about 6 or 7 grams of protein, it’s clear that each taco contains only a tiny amount of beef—which explains why I want to eat so many to feel satisfied!
1 flour tortilla (7"), 98% fat-free
1½ teaspoons Taco Bell Seasoning Mix
2 teaspoons water
1½ ounces 96% lean ground beef (about 3 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon light sour cream
¼ cup shredded iceberg lettuce
2 tablespoons chopped tomatoes
½ ounce (about ¼ cup) shredded low-fat yellow Cheddar cheese
Mild or hot red taco sauce (optional)
PREHEAT the oven to 400°F.
Wrap the tortilla in aluminum foil so it remains flat. Place directly on the oven rack. Heat for about 5 minutes, or until warm.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the seasoning mix and water. Stir until smooth. Set aside.
Preheat a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until drops of water sizzle when splashed on the pan. Crumble the beef into the pan. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until no longer pink. Stir in the reserved seasoning mixture. Cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until no liquid remains.
In one hand, hold the tortilla as you would hold a finished taco. Spoon the beef mixture in a strip along the bottom. Top evenly with the sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. Season with taco sauce, if desired.
229 calories, 17 g protein, 30 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat, 2 g sat. fat, 3 g fiber
Original Taco Bell Soft Taco Supreme (beef): 260 calories, 11 g protein, 22 g carbohydrates, 14 g fat, 7 g sat. fat, 3 g fiber
DRIVE-THRU Need dinner in a jiffy? Substitute 1½ teaspoons packaged low-sodium taco seasoning for the homemade mixture. Also, you can heat the tortilla in the microwave instead of in the oven. Simply place it between 2 damp paper towels on a microwavable plate. Then microwave it on low power in 10-second intervals until it is just warm.