Alyssa Henderson

HLTH 1020
Barry Wilcox
May 22nd, 2019

Healthy Food VS Fast Food

1. List 10 locations by name and type of food establishment that are within 1-2 mile radius
of where you live.
Grocery Store: Smith’s Food and Drug Store
Convenience Store: Maverick
Fast Food: Taco Bell
McDonalds
Quick Sit-Down
Chain Restaurant: Five Guys Burgers
Costa Vida Mexican Food
Local Restaurants: Pho Banh Vietnamese
Traditional Sit-Down
Chain Restaurant: Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
Local Restaurant: Tony’s Grill and Sushi Bar
Lagos Mexican Food

2. Choose one grocery store, one convenience store, one fast-food restaurant, one sit-down
restaurant/or one “quick” sit-down restaurant (4 locations total) and answer the following
questions for each location.

Smith’s Food and Drug Store

Is there a menu/nutrition fact available to the consumer (you)? If yes, where can the
information be found? (List all that apply):
 In the location
Nutrition facts can be found on every item throughout the store besides maybe produce, where
you can find via online searches.
 Online
The Smith’s website carries all nutritional facts of the items they stock including produce. You
can also look these up through other searches besides the direct website.

 On a mobile device (iPhone, Droid, etc.)

Smith’s also has a mobile app for all devices where you can order groceries online, each item
you select pops up with nutrition facts about the item they carry. I use this almost every time I
shop for it helps me avoid the temptations of less healthy food aisles.
What are the healthiest choices at those locations, given your options/the menu?
Smith’s carries fresh and even organic produce available throughout the store. They also have
sectioned dedicated to better health and nutrition. I am vegan myself and find a lot of my goods
in those sections. If you want to find healthy choices, Smith’s grocery store is a much better
choice than fast food and eating out, cheaper too.
Explain why are these the healthiest choices at those locations?
My basic knowledge of nutrition is that your plate should consist of protein, vegetables, fruit,
grains and dairy. Smith’s carries all these items as well as certified organic versions, that is how I
know they are healthy choice. The store also advertises the areas where healthier choices are
located. There are a lot of junk food options as well, but my tip is to stay on the outer sides of the
grocery stores and avoid the sugary snack and drink aisles. Produce is always the healthiest
choice because it has not been processed. I can tell simply by the fact that they are not in any
packaging.
Maverick Convenience Store
Is there a menu/nutrition fact available to the consumer (you)? If yes, where can the
information be found? (List all that apply):
 In the location
If I remember correctly almost all items at this convenience store have nutrition facts, even the
food that is made there comes with a printed sticker of the nutrition label. Just look around the
packaging to find nutritional labels. I bet you could even ask an attendant and they might help
you locate all labels.

 Online
Maverick’s website has a full list of all the items they sell and their nutritional facts. You can
also find most nutrition labels online with a quick search since convenience store food is usually
common snacks and drinks you can find anywhere. Maverick although does list them all on their
website in pdf file.
 On a mobile device (iPhone, Droid, etc.)
Though there is a Maverick app, it is more used for rewards and pricing of gas. I could not find
any nutrition labels or listed products they sell. But if you are on a mobile device you can easily
use the search engine and pull up the Maverick website mentioned above.
What are the healthiest choices at those locations, given your options/the menu?
If you are trying to choose a healthy snack on the go, Maverick does offer more than just greasy
chips and candy. They always have a fridge aisle with fruit, yogurt, hummus and sliced cheese.
They also carry water and healthier beverage choices like organic iced tea and vitamin water.
Though these may not be the best fresh health choices they are much better than a candy bar.
Explain why are these the healthiest choices at those locations?
These are the healthiest options at these locations because the majority of what they have to offer
is junk food and carbonated drinks. Full of sugar, fats and carbs. So, opting for the fresher food
in the refrigerated area is your healthier choice.
Taco Bell
Is there a menu/nutrition fact available to the consumer (you)? If yes, where can the
information be found? (List all that apply):
 In the location
Though you cannot find full nutrition labels on the menu or walls of this location, the menu does
provide the calorie intake. If you ask the employee, I believe they will have a nutrition fact list
since it is so readily available online.

 Online
This is the best place to look if you have the resource too. Taco Bell’s website has a full list of all
nutrition facts for every single product they sell. It has been very helpful for me. I use it often
and they also have a vegetarian menu and vegan options!

 On a mobile device (iPhone, Droid, etc.)

There is a Taco Bell app where you can order before hand and track your order. I noticed again
that the calorie intake was easy to find on the opening menu but once you click the specific item
you will be provided with the nutrition label, list of ingredients and even allergen information,
which is so helpful to me. This app is very informative.
What are the healthiest choices at those locations, given your options/the menu?
Since this is fast food, you don’t have the best options for healthy food but there are better
choices than others. Taco Bell offers something called “fresco style,” where they remove the
meat and cheese and substitute it with Pico de Gallo. This is how I order all my choices. I would
opt for the fresher toppings like, lettuce, Pico de Gallo, guacamole, etc. After some research,
your healthiest choice would be a Chicken Soft Taco fresco style, maybe swapping out the meat
for beans instead.
Explain why are these the healthiest choices at those locations?
Taco Bell offers a lot of greasy and fat foods, so choosing the fresher options will hep you stay
away from the more processed food options.
Tony’s Grill and Sushi Bar
Is there a menu/nutrition fact available to the consumer (you)? If yes, where can the
information be found? (List all that apply):
 In the location
There are no nutrition labels located on the menu or the walls of this location. I have not asked
for them before, but most establishments can give you a nutrition list when asked. This is not a
chain restaurant and there is only one, so information is not readily available as a chain
restaurant. The store owner here although is very kind and helpful with most of my questions
about vegan options. Just ask! The good thing about ordering sushi is that the ingredients of the
roll are listed on the menu, so that can give you a start to finding out the nutrition facts.

 Online
Tony’s sushi has an online website where their same menu is located. You can again find the
ingredients to your sushi rolls but no nutrition facts. Once you know what fish and veggies, etc
are in your role you can search online for those specific nutrition labels to get a better idea.

 On a mobile device (iPhone, Droid, etc.)

Tony’s does not offer an online app since it is a small establishment but again, you can search
the internet from your phone and get the above results from their website.
What are the healthiest choices at those locations, given your options/the menu?
Tony’s has a lot to offer! More than just sushi. If you want to make healthy choices, choose
fresher ingredients. Staying away from fried foods and sugary sauces. I go for veggie sushi rolls
with soy sauce, they have lower sodium soy sauce options as well, which is a healthier choice.
Luckily most of the ingredients here are fresh and consist of all kinds of veggies!
Explain why are these the healthiest choices at those locations?
Staying away from the fried foods and sugary sauces helps you not consume as much calories,
sugar, and bad fats. I always find that when I make the healthier option choices here, I feel
refreshed and energetic. When I have gotten their sugary fried rolls, I feel bloated and very tired.
3. What are some healthier stores/restaurants that you would like to see in your
neighborhood? Please explain why?
Since I am vegan, I would love to see a LOT more options in Layton, Utah that are specifically
vegan friendly. So far, we only have pizza and taco bell options, not the best. I would love to see
a Harmons, Whole Foods, Trader Joes or a health food grocery store come closer to me. The
nearest options I have are Farmington and Ogden which isn’t the most convenient. Another
restaurant that is on the healthier side, would be Blue Lemon. It has so many healthy comfort
food options that I love. I wish we had more options here because I know it would help me to
choose healthier choices when eating out or even buying groceries. It also would bring more
people that are health aware to the community which I think could be a really great thing for
everyone. It is so important to eat healthy.