{"id":155219,"date":"2025-06-03T16:22:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T16:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/155219\/"},"modified":"2025-06-03T16:22:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T16:22:13","slug":"nutritionists-reveal-whether-tacos-or-sliders-are-the-healthier-summer-food-option","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/155219\/","title":{"rendered":"Nutritionists reveal whether tacos or sliders are the healthier summer food option"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">At game-day gatherings, casual backyard hangs and happy hours alike, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/food-drink\/food-faceoff\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tacos and sliders<\/a> are often front and center on summer menus.<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">But when you&#8217;re trying to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/food-drink\/food\/healthy-foods\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eat healthily<\/a>, which is the smarter choice?<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Tacos and sliders are fun, handheld meal options, but their nutritional content can vary significantly depending on the ingredients, portion sizes, preparation methods and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/food-drink\/recipes\/techniques\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cooking techniques<\/a>, such as high-heat grilling or frying,&#8221; Michelle Routhenstein, a New York-based cardiology dietitian at\u00a0Entirely Nourished, told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/food-drink\/top-5-fast-food-burgers-health-says-new-study\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TOP 5 FAST-FOOD BURGERS FOR YOUR HEALTH, SAYS NEW STUDY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Tacos and sliders are convenient, versatile and rich in flavor, added Trista K. Best, a registered dietitian in Georgia \u2014 but when it comes to nutrition, they can vary greatly.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;To keep either option on the healthier side, opt for lean proteins, whole-grain buns and shells, and nutrient-dense fresh toppings,&#8221; Best told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/slider-vs-tacos-split.jpg\" alt=\"tacos vs sliders food faceoff\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Dietitians have shared insights into making sliders and tacos healthier. (iStock)<\/p>\n<p>Tacos&#8217; nutritional profile<\/p>\n<p>A typical taco at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/food-drink\/food\/restaurants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a restaurant<\/a> contains about 150 calories, 3 grams of saturated fat, 250 milligrams of sodium and 6 grams of protein, according to Routhenstein.<\/p>\n<p>These numbers can vary widely based on whether you&#8217;re eating at a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/fast-food\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fast-food joint<\/a> or a more formal restaurant, or if you&#8217;re making them at home or picking up pre-made frozen tacos to heat in the microwave.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/food-drink\/10-best-diets-2025-chosen-nutrition-experts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>10 BEST DIETS OF 2025 AS CHOSEN BY NUTRITION EXPERTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>To make tacos healthier, use soft-corn tortillas, said Best, which offer more fiber with fewer refined carbohydrates than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/food-drink\/recipes\/cuisines\/mexican\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">flour tortillas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>She also suggested replacing fried meats with lean cuts of chicken, fish or beans to reduce the saturated fat content.<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/plate-of-tacos.jpg\" alt=\"plate of tacos\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Tacos can make for a balanced meal, from the high-fiber tortilla to the lean protein options.\u00a0 (iStock)<\/p>\n<p>Using fresh, healthy toppings \u2014 such as avocado, salsa and vegetables \u2014 increases the nutrient density of tacos, Best added.<\/p>\n<p>If ordering prepared or prepackaged tacos, opt for those with minimal amounts of sodium, preservatives and artificial ingredients, the experts advised.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/newsletters?cmpid=fnfirstnl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Tacos can be a balanced meal when using a whole-wheat or high-fiber tortilla filled with lean proteins like grilled chicken, beans and fish, loaded with fresh veggies, and topped with avocado,&#8221; Routhenstein said.<\/p>\n<p>She cautioned that tacos can slide into less healthy territory if they&#8217;re filled with high-fat options like fried meat, cheese or refined flour tortillas.<\/p>\n<p>Sliders&#8217; nutritional profile<\/p>\n<p>A typical slider contains about 160 calories, 4 grams of saturated fat, 250 milligrams of sodium and 9 grams of protein, according to Routhenstein.<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/plate-of-sliders.jpg\" alt=\"plate of sliders\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>There are ways to make sliders a bit healthier than the traditional type that are often served at outdoor barbecues. (iStock)<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Sliders are often high in calories, fats and sodium, especially when cooked with fatty meats or topped with sauces and cheese,&#8221; she told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<p>As with tacos, to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/healthy-living\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">make them healthier,<\/a> she suggested choosing lean proteins like grilled chicken and being mindful of portion sizes and high-fat condiments.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/lifestyle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>For more Lifestyle articles, visit <\/strong><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/lifestyle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>www.foxnews.com\/lifestyle<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Since traditional sliders are made with white bread, which is high in refined carbohydrates, Best said choosing whole-grain buns or lettuce wraps makes for a more nutritious alternative.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>So which is healthier?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Both tacos and sliders have the potential for containing excessive calories and saturated fats.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>With some thoughtful planning and portion control, however, the two dishes have the potential to fit into a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/nutrition-and-fitness\/diet-trends\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">healthy diet<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/taco-vs-slider-split.jpg\" alt=\"taco vs split food faceoff\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>If prepared thoughtfully and with portion control in mind, both options can be healthy choices. (iStock)<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;While tacos and sliders at a restaurant may have similar <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/nutrition-and-fitness\/nutrition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nutrition facts<\/a>, tacos have great potential to be nutrient-dense and healthy when you select the right ingredients,&#8221; Routhenstein said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Best leans <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/food-drink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">toward tacos<\/a> as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/apps-products?pid=AppArticleLink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Overall, tacos are likely the healthier option between the two,&#8221; she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is largely due to the ease with which they can be made with fresher, whole and leaner ingredients.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Perri Ormont Blumberg is a contributing lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! At game-day gatherings, casual backyard hangs and happy hours alike,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":155220,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4318],"tags":[105,4434,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-155219","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-nutrition","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114620357031111015","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}