For less sodium and fat...

chefjes - February 21, 2008 12:04:41 PM PST

I make a similar taco salad but with a few variations to cut down on the fat and sodium levels:

-Try the reduced-sodium taco seasoning mix, or make your own using 3 parts chili powder, 2 parts onion powder, 1 part each ground cumin, garlic powder, paprika, ground oregano, and sugar. Add salt and cayenne pepper to taste.
-Use reduced-fat cheese and sour cream. You can cut the sour cream out all together and use plain yogurt, which has a thinner consistancy but offers the same taste/flavor experience.
-While not all-together bad for you, you could omit the avocado, even though it\'s high in the "good" fats (not to mention very tasty).
-Omit the chips or crumble 1 or 2 of them over the salad for a crouton-esque topping.

I love how people assume that because it\'s a salad, that it is good for you.

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Why would I want to use taco mix?

bleeding_asshole2005 - March 17, 2008 02:22:13 PM PST

I guess this is what happens when you listen to craft.Follow the directions on a box of their mac an cheese and you end up with the worst tasting mac an cheese you could ever make.How ever with that said they have the best mac an cheese in a box.They just don\'t know how to make it in a pan.

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Another FAT SALAD ARRRGGHHHHH!!!!!

sageliquid - February 18, 2008 09:25:41 PM PST

There are so many ignorant people that think if it is a salad it is good for you. WRONG!!!! I know some people out there might be saying, "Duh, tell us something we don\'t know." Well I am writing this because there are a lot of people that just don\'t get it and need to be told. This recipe is being sponsored by Pillsbury!!!! They don\'t make a single healthy product. They are just as responsible for obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and death as the tobacco companies. They glorify the consumption of buttery lard, white flour, sodium, and preservatives by making it look fun with a morbidly obese dough boy icon. Even in the television commercials he gets poked in his fat belly. Don\'t get me wrong he\'s cute and fat, but he\'s a fictional character. There are many ways to make this unhealthy typical fat American salad an edible, sensible, healthy salad.

Here\'s how it goes...DITCH the brown sugar. It is SUGAR!!!! Who the hell puts sugar on a salad!!!!

A half a cup of oil WHOA!!!! That\'s over 1000 calories right there. First of all oil is pure fat. If you are going to use an oil PLEASE go with olive oil. It has a high amount of mono and polyunsaturated fat (the good fats) That is more than any other oil and it is second best to safflower oil for the least amount of saturated fat (the bad fat). I don\'t condemn olive oil, but if you are trying to lose weight use it in moderation. Some would say stay away from it, but I believe the omega oils are essential for your body.

Cider Vinegar is great. You are looking at 20 calories for a whole cup!!!! No sodium, fat, nothing. It just provides a guiltless taste :^)

Chicken, please make sure it is lean. I prefer not eating the decomposing flesh of a small defenseless bird, but I do realize that most of the world is carnivores, so from a health perspective GO LEAN, GO SKINLESS.

DITCH THE CHEESE!! The cheese will not be missed by all the flavors that meld together in a delicious salad.

Sour cream: if you must have sour cream go with a fat free sour cream. Check all the available brands in your store. Check all the ingredients. Get the one with the least amount of words you don\'t know what they mean. Fat-free sour cream has lots of chemicals in it. I would recommend it, but I don\'t want to take all the fun out of this salad. If you need a fat-free alternative you can go with it. While we are on the subject of sour cream it bring up another thought. I would actually prefer that people ate the regular full fat sour cream, because it has less chemicals and crap in it. BUT we seek the fat free alternative because we are a lazy society. If we would just get off out fat TV watching butts and exercise a little everyday we would be able to eat a normal diet with out polluting ourselves with chemically engineered flavorings to give our fat free food regular food taste. A friend of mine worked for a food chemical company. He was a chemist there. He quit after 3 months and started eating organic. I won\'t even go there.

Anyway, back to the recipe. Avocado, yes it is fatty, but again you are struck with the good for you fat dilemma. Consume moderately. I always everything is good in moderation, but moderation is arbitrary. For safety sake, we will just say that moderation is LESS than what you think.

Taco seasoning is SODIUM CENTRAL. Funny salt shares a nickname with cocaine = WHITE DEATH!! Use chili powder, cayenne pepper, ground cumin, and fresh cilantro instead. It will taste much better.

Olives = good fat.

Onions = awesome.

Mixed greens = awesome.

Blue tortilla chips = BUY THE BAKED BLUE TORTILLA CHIPS!

With these alterations you will not sacrifice much taste. I honestly think it will taste better. Once you condition your palate to appreciate healthy eating you will rue the lifetime you thought a Big Mac tasted good. I honestly think a Big Mac tastes (i should say smells because I don\'t eat them) like 100 sweaty armpits pickles in a septic tank. BARF!!!! Graphic but true.

Bon Appetit!!

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Fat City!

Antonio - February 18, 2008 04:26:49 PM PST

34 grams of fat! Heart attack immediately follows.

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We changed this taco salad and yum!

M n B H - February 18, 2008 07:11:10 PM PST

We made a few changes and really liked this salad.

-cut the taco seasoning in 1/2
-1ishTbl brown sugar
-1/2c oil
-2Tbl of apple cidar vingar
-1 can (13oz) of chicken

Blend seasonings add chicken and heat in skillet. I fried flour shells shaped by pressing between two bowls, added lettuce, chicken, cheese, sour cream, (lots of other goodies).....and italian dressing.

Will try again soon, when I need a quick meal!!

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it

catzrule1979 - February 18, 2008 04:07:41 PM PST

Lol! it\'s not THAT bad....for a salad

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As usual

Edward N - September 9, 2008 08:57:18 PM PST

most seem to want or need to cover their food with disgusting toppings. How in hell can you taste whats in the food with sour cream or any other topping covering it up. Disgusting!

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tasty but.....

Shelly D - February 18, 2008 06:01:47 PM PST

It was great but for trying to eat healthy, you are getting waaaay too much fat per serving (and who\'s eating just one?). I just looked at the sodium for the pack of taco sauce and see it is 370 mg per serving. Not a very healthy dish.

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Very Nice

Familia G - February 18, 2008 04:30:47 PM PST

I find this salad excellent, but instead of cheddar cheese use low fat one, the blue chips are excellent since blue corn has the a very low Glucemic Index, which is excellent if you suffer from high blood sugar or diabetes, avocado is great also but instead of fried the chips i suggest you dry them in the oven, cut them fresh from a blue corn tortilla, moist in water, them pour over them salt whit herbs and put on the oven until they are dry and toast, they a very good way to reduce the fat.

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LOVE THIS SALAD!!!SOOO GOOD

sexii_beast001 - February 18, 2008 04:30:44 PM PST

ITS FAST TO MAKE WHEN YOU DONT HAVE TIME AND MOST OF ALL ITS GOOD!!! IF YOUR A SALAD LOVER THIS WILL BE GREAT FOR YOU..OR IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR FAMILY A MORE HEALTHY DINNER.TRY THIS!!!

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