From Homework to Hot Sauce: The Taco Bell Takeover
The bell rings at the end of class, but instead of the end of the day, students are thinking about the big bell we all love, Taco Bell. Taco Bell is one of the few fast food restaurants we have here in town, so it’s always busy. Students from Park High School are common customers as it is considered as one of the healthier options for fast food here in town.
Although a large portion of their menu is high in sodium, Taco Bell’s menu is still high in protein and also offers lower calorie options as well like the fresco style tacos and the fresco bean burrito. Some popular menu items are their crunchwraps, steak grilled cheese burritos, and the quesadillas. For sides, nacho fries and cheesy fiesta potatoes are a staple, appearing in many top order lists. Students with a sweet tooth order Cinnabon delights for dessert, or baja blasts and their assortment of freezes as drinks.
Fast food has become a major part of many teenagers’ lives, with Taco Bell sitting right at the center of that. Having McDonalds on the same side of town as Taco Bell, students from Park High are given a choice when looking for lunch on that side of town; burgers and fries or burritos and tacos. A longer lunch period this year resulted in having more time to get to further places. giving more students the option to eat out.
According to students, Taco Bell is very popular for lunch, with students eating there anywhere from as low as five times a month to fifteen. Junior Braxton Wright considers himself a casual customer, getting lunch and dinner with his brother and friends on their way out of town.
Over the years, Taco Bell has raised its prices and will continue to as the price of food goes up around the country, but that doesn’t stop students when the cravings hit. Kennah Bennett, also a junior, explained she would still continue to go even as the prices go up, and many students agreeing with her said they would continue to be popular customers. Although Olivia Behm, a senior, stated she would not continue to go if prices were to go up, because its all the same.
After school events, students head to Taco Bell for dinner due to the fact it is always open so late. After winter formal, many students hit the drive through for a quick snack and to get some of the menu items that would soon be leaving, such as the crispy chicken burrito, cheesy dipping burrito, or also the loaded beef nachos. The most missed menu item will forever be the crispy chicken burrito.
