Wendy’s vs Taco Bell Food Nutrition Comparison

Food Nutrition Comparison

Wendy’s and Taco Bell are two important brands in the US fast food industry. People in recent times have become more health conscious hence both the fast food chains have added many nourishing options to their menus. Wendy’s and Taco Bell both have their online surveys named, ‘Talktowendys’ and  ‘Taco Bell Survey’ respectively.

Breakfast

At Wendy’s calories in breakfast menu range from 620 calories to 160 calories. ‘Sausage Egg Cheese Biscuit’ has the highest amount of calories while Plain Oatmeal has the lowest. While Taco Bell serves ‘Crunchwrap- Sausages’ having the highest calorie count of 700 calories and ‘Hashbrowns’ with a lowest calorie count of 160 calories. They also have caffeinated drinks which range from 10 calories to 25 calories. Wendy’s has three to four options on their breakfast menu which cross the intake limit of 1,500 mg of sodium prescribed by doctors. Taco Bell serves ‘Grande Scrambler Burrito- Steak’ which has the highest level of sodium on their breakfast menu i.e. 1,480 mg which is below the prescribed limit. The amount of fat in breakfast menu ranges from 46 gms to 0gms at both the outlets.

Side Menus

Inside menu, Taco Bell’s ‘Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes’ and ‘Chips and Guacamole’ top the list with 230 calories while ‘Black Beans’ has the lowest calorie count of 80 calories. On the other hand, ‘Chilly Cheese Fries’ lands first place with 500 calories while ‘Apple Bites’ backs the last place with 35 calories at Wendy’s. In sodium contain ‘Pintos ‘n Cheese’ has 680mg and  ‘Chilly Cheese Fries’ has 710 mg of sodium at Taco Bell and Wendy’s respectively. The amount of fat inside menu ranges from 14gms to 1.5gms at TacoBell and 28 gms to 0gms at Wendy’s.

Beverages

Taco Bell provides a wide variety of beverages in with a range of calories between 420 calories to 0 calories. It’s a counterpart, Wendy’s has limited options in the beverage menu and beverages are in the range of 430 calories to 0 calories. This servings of beverages come in small(16 oz), medium(20 oz) and large(30 oz) sizes. These beverages have zero fats and proteins. ‘Tropicana Pink Lemonade’ has the highest level of sodium i.e. 390mg at Taco Bell while ‘Flashing Fruit Punch’ at Wendy’s tops the list with 140mg.

Value Menu

Calories in Value Menu ranges between 350 calories to 10 calories at Taco Bell and 420 calories to 40 calories at Wendy’s. The sodium content ranges from 890 mg to 0mg at Taco Bell and 950 mg to 470 mg at Wendy’s. ‘Grilled Breakfast Burrito Bacon’ at Taco Bell and ‘Chrispy Chicken BLT’ at Wendy’s have the highest amount of sodium content. The range of fat content lies from 18gm to 0gm at Taco Bell and 23gm to 10gm at Wendy’s. There is a considerable difference between the number of calories, sodium content and fat content as Wendy’s has not included drinks and beverages in its Value Menu.

Taco Bell and Wendy’s both have disclosed essential nutritional information regarding each of their servings on their official websites. They have provided customers with food allergen and gluten sensitivity information by displaying amount of eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, nuts, wheat and soybean ingredients present in their dishes on their particular websites and apps to aid customers in making a right choice.

Though the data from official websites leads us to conclude that Taco Bell is better in terms of health and nutrition than Wendy’s, we should not forget that Taco Bell has been sued not serving real meat. The meat served contained salmonella which made 68 people sick and at least 20 were admitted in the hospital.

Choosing the Right Food for Health and Nutrition

Great health is only achievable by eating the right food for nutrition. It is apparent that everyone desires to feel great, energetic, and prevent common infections. However, without the right nutrition basics this is hardly achievable. Meal planning also enables someone to avoid junk food and encourages a consistent healthy diet.

Health and nutrition tips

Planning a healthy diet is the first step to nutritious eating. One cannot easily do this on the go; it takes discipline and small manageable steps. Start by thinking of the diet in terms of color rather than being overly concerned about the amount of calories intake. Fruits and vegetables are very colorful and useful in many recipes making the food more appetizing and palatable. These are the foundation of healthy eating and constitute highly required minerals vitamins and antioxidants

Nutrition improvement begins by making slow changes in one’s eating habits and over time, getting accustomed to eating healthy. These can include measures liking switching from conventional butter to cooking with olive oil. Another very important ingredient in a diet is the use of water and exercise. Water flushes out waste from the system while exercise helps in improving metabolism and increased blood flow to the whole body.

It is important to eat a balanced diet that always includes proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and fat for sustainable health and nutrition. One does not have to think of some food as being off limits, however all food should be eaten in moderation and in the right quantities. What one needs to do if they have been eating unhealthy foods, for example salty and sugary foods, is to start reducing the intake slowly. The body gradually adjusts to the new alternative and soon eating healthy becomes a habit.

Starting the day with breakfast, followed by small frequent meals for the rest of the day, is energizing and increases metabolism. Whenever one has the opportunity, they should buy fresh produce from local farmers.

Healthy carbohydrates and whole grains for good nutrition

Carbohydrates and fiber rich foods for nutrition are very important as they give us energy to go through the day. These are available in whole grains and are rich in antioxidants and phyotochemicals, which are helpful in protecting against coronary heart diseases, diabetes and some forms of cancer. They digest more slowly keeping one feeling fuller for longer while keeping insulin and blood sugar levels at a healthy low. However, one needs to differentiate between the good and unhealthy carbohydrates. The good carbohydrates constitute of whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, while unhealthy carbohydrates constitute refined sugars and flour.

Planning quick and easy meals ahead

Healthy nutrition begins with prior planning which begins with a well-stocked kitchen and quick and easy recipes. One can begin by picking a few favorite recipes and schedule weekly meals while using leftovers for other days. Preparing one’s own food is less expensive and healthy. When one goes shopping, shop around the stores perimeter. One is most likely to find healthy ingredients here. Whenever possible, cook over the weekend and freeze the left overs for use during the rest of the week, this goes a long way in improving health and nutrition.