Targeting the Taqueria: Implementing Healthy Food Options at Mexican American Restaurants

Eating out is increasingly common among Mexican-American families and is associated with higher obesity levels than eating a traditional Mexican diet at home. To address such changes in eating habits and high rates of obesity among its predominantly Mexican-American population, the Monterey County Health Department in Salinas, California, partnered with taqueria owners in a 5-year community-based obesity prevention program. A survey of entrée options at all Salinas taquerias (n=35) and fast-food restaurants (n=38), showed that taqueria menu offerings tended to be healthier than American-style fast-food restaurant menu offerings. Building on these findings and the strengths of the traditional Mexican-American diet, taqueria owners then worked with Health Department staff to design and implement an intervention to increase healthier menu options at their restaurants. Among the 16 initial taqueria partners, 94% distributed health education materials on healthy lifestyle choices, and 81% introduced one or more healthier side options, including whole beans, whole wheat tortillas, and/or freshly made fruit juice. This in turn led to a change in the owners' perceptions of themselves--from ones who provide places where eating is entertainment to ones who provide places that enhance the health of the community. Based on its success, the Health Department developed a healthy taqueria tool kit to aid in disseminating the intervention to broader audiences. Interventions, such as the one described that address environmental influences on obesity, have the opportunity to positively influence the health of the Mexican-American population that is at high risk for obesity and its attendant health problems.