The Jack in the Box Monster Taco is made with ground beef, lettuce, American cheese and taco sauce. It is served in a large fried corn tortilla shell. The options at fast-food restaurants are often high in fat, calories and sodium, so avoid making them a regular part of your diet. However, having a Jack in the Box Monster Taco now and then isn't likely to derail your health goals.
Calories
A diet that is too high in calories can result in weight gain. Eating at fast-food restaurants such as Jack in the Box can make consuming excess calories easy, since many of the meals are high in calories. The Jack in the Box Monster Taco contains 260 calories, so only have one to keep your calorie intake under control.
Fat
A 2,000-calorie diet should not exceed 78 grams of fat per day, and no more than 22 grams of that fat should be saturated. A Jack in the Box Monster Taco contains 15 grams of fat, including 5 grams of saturated fat. If you eat more than one taco, you'll be consuming an unhealthy amount of fat for one meal. A diet that is too high in fat (particularly saturated fat) increases your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Sodium
Fast food is often very high in sodium. Eating salty meals on a regular basis increases your risk of high blood pressure, which can lead to heart problems. The intake recommendations for sodium are between 1,500 and 2,300 mg per day, and you should consume less if you have hypertension or heart disease. A Monster Taco from Jack in the Box contains 340 mg of sodium, making it a slightly better choice than many other options on fast-food menus.
Protein
Your daily protein intake should make up 10 to 35 percent of your calories, which equates to 50 to 175 grams each day. A Monster Taco from Jack in the Box contributes 9 grams to this total. Getting enough protein in your diet keeps your cells and muscles healthy and plays a role in growth and development. Protein also gives you energy.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are your body's main source of energy, and your daily calorie intake should be made up of 45 to 65 percent carbohydrates. This equates to 225 to 325 grams per day for a 2,000-calorie diet. A Jack in the Box Monster Taco contains 21 grams of carbohydrates. The Mayo Clinic recommends getting most of your carbohydrates from whole grains, fruits and vegetables, rather than highly processed fast foods.
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