Christine and the "Fast Food Diet" from Taco Bell

[cewait]

OK, I will admit I am intrigued by Christine’s story and the Taco Bell Drive Thru Diet. What in the heck is the deal? Call me a skeptic! With little in the way of details Taco Bell rolled her out on December 28, 09, the second anniversary of the roll out of the Fresco Menu. All I could imagine was another Jarred but frankly this did not make sense so I did a little research. Her story – every public detail – From the website…

As you know, the Drive-Thru Diet® menu is not a weight-loss program. It's about making different choices. For me, I didn't want to cut out my fast food so I started choosing Fresco items from the Drive-Thru Diet® menu and making other sensible choices. I reduced my daily calorie and fat intake by 500 calories to 1250 calories a day, and, after two years, I ended up losing 54 pounds! These results aren't typical, but for me they were fantastic!

So how much was from the Fresco Menu and how much from “other sensible choices?” I am thinking that her desire to not, “cut my fast food” slowed her progress. I hate to say this but the math doesn’t add. 100 weeks with a 3500 Kcal/ week cut in intake should equal ----- drum roll – 100 pounds. Doesn’t sound like a deal to me. A quick review of the menu shows that the Fresco menu is still a high Kcal intense menu. Even worse on the two menu items I compared original menu versus Fresco Menu the Sodium was HIGHER.

This little disclaimer in really small print…..

DRIVE-THRU-DIET® IS NOT A WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM. FOR A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE, PAY ATTENTION TO TOTAL CALORIE AND FAT INTAKE AND REGULAR EXERCISE. TACO BELL'S FRESCO MENU CAN HELP WITH CALORIE REDUCTIONS OF 20 TO 100 PER ITEM COMPARED TO CORRESPONDING PRODUCTS ON OUR REGULAR MENU. NOT A LOW CALORIE FOOD. FOR COMPLETE NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT TACOBELL.COM.


Use some common sense and don’t believe the hype.

 

[lolafrances]

I think you make some great points here, Charles.

We all know in our heart of hearts that there is no easy solution to weight loss, including the latest fad diet. The more someone continues to rely on convenience food of any kind, the more they avoid preparing and cooking their own food, which is a critically important step to losing weight, in my opinion. When you cook your own healthful food you are able to control the ingredients, eliminate preservatives, reduce the sodium, as well as maximize the use of fresh veggies. Cooking for yourself is a key component of weight loss and a Taco Bell diet does not support that lifestyle shift.

Once again, if it sounds too good to be true...

 

[MelanieC]

I agree - I hate when a fast food restaurant start's touting a lose weight eating our restaurant's food all the time. It's nice that there are lower calorie options at fast food restaurants, but calling it a drive through diet would leave the gullable to believe they can live off fast food. Long term, this food is so bad for you. Heck Mexican food is easy to do at home anyway and tastes so much better and is fresher and healthier.

 

[FireDancer]

I laughed out loud when I first saw that commercial. I am looking at it as either tongue in cheek or just going after people too gullible or naive to actually do some research into whether or not the food is part of a healthy diet.

They key part of the disclaimer is "COMPARED TO CORRESPONDING PRODUCTS ON OUR REGULAR MENU. NOT A LOW CALORIE FOOD.". Well no crap. If I start to promote the Kool-Aid and Twinkee diet and tell you it is a good way to reduce calories compared to eating tubs of Crisco and Lard sandwiches with Mayo it would be the same thing.

Unfortunately people are way too willing to fall for marketing, whether on TV or the front of the package. Luckily most of the WISHers will see right through the B.S.

 

[VernRDH]

I too thought this was pretty lame. Actually I thought it was a spoof thing at first.

Even though it is supposedly "better" it still is bad for you. I do love mexican food, but would rather make it at home than get Taco Bell.

Everyone is looking for the easy answers, they are not to be found at Taco Bell or Subway.

 

[cewait]

The Twinkee Diet - We will pump so many preservatives in you that you will live forever!

Love it

 

[PeterPan09]

The Twinkee Diet - We will pump so many preservatives in you that you will live forever!

Love it

actually, you'll still die-but your body won't decay so your family can have you around forever!!!

 

[50sjayne]

I worked at a Taco Bell as a teen for about 3 days before the regretted their decision to hire me lol. The burger was the fattiest grossest stuff I ever saw....

 

[Darsa]

compared to eating tubs of Crisco and Lard sandwiches with Mayo it would be the same thing.

Ewww, this made my stomach twist!

I didn't believe it myself; it would be NICE if it was possible that Taco Bell had diet foods!