A Lexington, Virginia, man announced his intent to eat nothing but Taco Bell for 30 days straight as part of a health experiment, and he plans to document his journey.
Sam Reid posted a video in which he referenced an article published by Insider in 2016 that said Taco Bell is one of the healthiest fast food chains.
When the article was published, it stated was a reduction in the amount of sodium in all the food items on the Taco Bell menu and there was the option to order from the low-calorie "Fresco" menu, the high-protein "Cantina menu and a vegetarian menu."
This is not the first time someone decided to eat strictly from a fast food restaurant.
In 2004, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock conducted a similar experiment to see what would happen to his body if he only ate McDonald's three meals each day for 30 days, CBS reported. Spurlock also cut back on the amount of exercise he did each day.
He shared his experience in the documentary "Super Size Me."
Unlike "Super Size Me," Reid said he plans to engage in regular cardio and weight training while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
"I plan on consulting with experts, exploring the relationship we have with food and documenting every step of the way," he said on his Kickstarter page, which has raised more than $1,000 to fund the experiment.
Taco Bell Experiment
Reid said in his video that after reading the article stating that Taco Bell is one of the healthiest fast food restaurants, he wanted to put that claim to the test.
"I'm setting out to eat nothing but Taco Bell for 30 days straight to see if it's possible to actually become healthier while doing it," he said.
Reid told CBS affiliate station WDBJ that his hypothesis is that healthy fast food may help someone become healthier.
"I don't think it's so much about the type of food or the brand of food, but it's about making healthy and informed choices when we eat," he told the outlet.
The journey will be filmed and released in a 20-minute long documentary on his YouTube channel.
Reid shared the video on his Kickstarter page and explained that the amount of money needed to go toward the meals is estimated to outweigh what he typically spends on his grocery bill.
"I'm not just talking about the cheapest thing on the menu, I actually want to get enough food to fuel my body," he said.
Any additional money that is raised past the goal is slated to go toward equipment to help develop the documentary.
When Newsweek heard from Reid, he said he was more than halfway through his experiment and has not noticed any "alarming" changes just yet.
"My blood pressure has risen slightly, which I attribute to the amount of sodium I'm currently taking in, but my weight has stayed relatively constant," he said.
Reid said he looks forward to sharing the results of his bloodwork, which includes his sodium, glucose, cholesterol and other levels, in his completed documentary.
Newsweek reached out to Taco Bell for comment.
Fast Food News
Fast food and fast food establishments have held the interest of the public for some time.
A Burger King hidden behind a wall that went untouched for more than a decade was rediscovered and was compared to a "time capsule."
One employee for Domino's shared a now-viral video showing how a customer ordered a pizza that came out to more than $275, while a customer shared why he orders his fries in a cup rather than the container it typically comes in.
Updated 08/16/2022, 2:52 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with comments from Sam Reid.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Catherine Ferris is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting for the U.S. Trends Team. She ... Read more
