The Taco Bell Diet

When I think of healthy food, I usually don't think about Taco Bell.

But here we are near the dawn of a new decade and it seems the Yum Brands Inc. division is taking a page from Subway restaurants. For the past 10 years, Subway has used Jared, the guy who says he lost 245 pounds while eating the chain's sandwiches.

Now Taco Bell has Christine, a woman who says she lost 54 pounds in two years eating Fresco items (the chain replaces cheese with fresh salsa on some of its menu choices). Taco Bell calls it the Drive-Thru Diet and, like Subway, is careful not to overstate the case of eating lower-calorie tacos.

"Drive-Thru Diet is not a weight-loss program," the company's legal disclaimer reads. "For a healthier lifestyle, pay attention to total calorie and fat intake and regular exercise."

The small prints goes on to say that the Fresco menu can help customers reduce their calorie intake but it's not a low-calorie food (in case there was any confusion).

Yum also owns KFC (formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken), which has pushed its baked chicken offerings this year. The chain also owns Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W Restaurants.

The fast-food business is taking a hit in the U.S. Sales for Yum's U.S. restaurants open at least a year fell 6 percent in the third quarter. Worldwide sales fell 2 percent. For the first nine months of the year, total sales dropped 6 percent to $7.47 billion.

Taco Bell has been offering its Fresco menu for several years but its national advertising has largely focused on the high-calorie fare. Appealing to the core fast-food eater while also reaching to people worried about their waist lines is a challenge for these chains.

It's apparent companies need to do something to get sales moving in the U.S. and fast-food restaurants have been under attack by consumer groups and some local governments who say the companies are contributing to an obesity epidemic.

Subway, owned by closely held Doctor's Associates Inc., rode the healthy eating image this decade. We'll see if Christine becomes the new Jared.