Go for Green Guidelines: Taco Bar

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1 Go for Green Guidelines: Taco Bar Overview Specialty bars are an excellent way to increase variety beyond what s offered on the Main/Hotline. When creating a Taco Bar, take into consideration the following performance-minded guidelines. These guidelines will help you achieve the Go for Green Menu Coding Goals. Your dining-facility staff influences what service members choose to eat through what your facility serves as well as where your staff places menu items. Featuring Green-coded menu items in prominent places and educating diners on how to select healthy meals encourages them to choose Green- and Yellow-coded options over Red-coded options. Your staff also can encourage diners to be creative and design their own entrées using different Green-coded items throughout the dining facility. For example, adding a Green-coded protein from the specialty bar (such as baked fish) on top of a salad created from salad bar items makes a balanced and delicious entrée. G4G Menu Coding Goals for Dining Facilities (See for basic guidelines.) At least one entree and two sides per meal on all specialty bars must be Green-coded items. At least 50% of choices should be Green- and/or Yellow-coded prior to diner-added toppings. 1 FOOD PLACEMENT/SETUP The diagram below shows one possible way to present the Taco Bar to be within Go for Green guidelines. Use the equipment you have on hand to mimic these ideas. Consider low-cost changes and movement of equipment within the dining facility/galley when feasible. Wholewheat tortillas Soft corn tortillas Corn taco shells (Red) Pulled pork chicken Blackened fish Corn Pinto beans Black beans Diner flow of traffic Onions Tomatoes Salsa Jalapeños Guacamole Lettuce Place Green-coded options in each category first on the line before Yellow- and Red-coded options to encourage the diner to choose the healthier options. cheese (Red) cheese (Yellow) Sauce rotated daily Also place Green-coded items closest to the diner, requiring him or her to reach further for the Yellow- and Red-coded options. Place high-volume Green-coded options in the largest pans your bar accommodates

2 Place Red-coded options in the smallest pans your bar accommodates, and pair them with the smallest serving utensils. Serve Green-coded fats/oils, such as olive oil and avocado, in the smallest pans with small serving utensils to encourage diners to use the designated portions. 2 FOOD ITEMS Offer whole-wheat and non-fried corn tortillas, and place them on the line before white and fried corn tortillas. Offer a variety of vegetables served hot or cold. Offer Green-coded sides such as: Brown rice Pinto and/or black beans Mexican Corn Offer Green-coded toppings in place of or in addition to traditional Red-coded toppings (sour cream and cheese): Avocado Guacamole Low-fat Greek yogurt Salsa 3 FEATURED MEAL OR PLATE Create a Green-coded Featured Taco at least once a week. Offer one daily if your facility staff can accommodate it. Diners will take your advice! The display for your Featured Taco should include a sign with: Meal name Ingredient list Directions on how to construct the Featured Taco, much like a recipe Within 6 months of launching G4G, work towards displaying a photograph of the Featured Taco or an actual plated meal. Featured Taco ideas (the portions below are entrée-size taco dishes): Whole-wheat tortilla + 2 oz shredded chicken + 2 Tbsp vegetable salsa + 2 Tbsp guacamole + 1 Tbsp Greek yogurt + 1 Tbsp cilantro Corn tortilla + 2 oz blackened fish + 2 Tbsp corn + 1 Tbsp goat cheese (such as Feta or Queso Fresco) + 1 tsp jalapeños Whole-wheat tortilla + ¼ cup ground turkey + ¼ cup pinto beans + 2 Tbsp shredded lettuce + 2 Tbsp diced onions ½ cup pulled beef + ¼ cup corn + ¼ cup black beans + ¼ cup salsa + bed of lettuce Visit the G4G website for other ideas as they are developed: and click on Menu Revisions

3 Suggested Taco Bar items to help meet Go for Green Menu Coding Goals Use the following menu items and recipes to modify your Taco Bar to increase the number of Green-coded options. Many items are available ready-to-serve or can be prepared from scratch and/or speed scratch using Armed Forces Recipe Service (AFRS) recipes. In-house preparation is preferred when possible because you have more control over ingredients and preparation techniques. A certain item might code differently based on whether it is an AFRS homemade recipe vs. commercial, which might vary among brands. Sodium codes are assigned based on standard portion sizes; if a larger-than-standard portion is served, the code might be incorrect. Listed by type: Tortillas, protein, vegetables, cheese, fats, sauces, and condiments. Bar Item G4G Color Code G4G Sodium Code AFRS Recipe Number* Tortillas Tortilla, corn, soft Tortilla, whole-wheat, soft Green Moderate Tortilla, white, soft Yellow Moderate Tortilla, corn, hard/crispy shell (fried) Chicken, shredded or sliced, seasoned Red Low Protein Green Low L Fish, white fleshed, 2 oz. pieces Green Low L Fish, white fleshed, blackened, 2 oz. pieces, Green Low L Shrimp (26 30 count) Pork, braised, shredded, or pulled Green Moderate Beans, black, seasoned Green Moderate Beans, pinto, seasoned Green Moderate Turkey taco filling (93/7) ground In development Beef taco filling (90/10) ground In development Beef, braised, shredded, or pulled In development Vegetables Mexican Corn (served hot or cold) Green Low Q Corn, frozen, whole kernel (served hot or cold) Onions, red, chopped Onions, green, sliced Sautéed onions and peppers

4 Bar Item G4G Color Code G4G Sodium Code AFRS Recipe Number* Cabbage, red or green, shredded, pickled Peppers, jalapeño, canned, sliced Radishes, fresh, thinly sliced Lettuce, shredded Tomatoes, fresh, diced Pico de gallo Salsa, tomato Salsa, pineapple Salsa verde (green/tomatillo) Salsa, mango In development Salsa, roasted corn In development Cheese Queso fresco Yellow Moderate Feta Yellow Moderate Goat cheese, crumbled Yellow Moderate Reduced-fat (2% milk) cheese, shredded Yellow High Cheddar, shredded Red High Monterey Jack, shredded Red High Pepper Jack, shredded Red High Fats Guacamole, chunky Green Low B Yogurt, Greek, nonfat or low-fat, plain Sour cream Red Low Sauces Taco sauce Green Moderate O Chili sauce In development Tomatillo-green chili sauce In development Avocado-tomatillo sauce In development Condiments Cilantro, fresh, chopped

5 Bar Item G4G Color Code G4G Sodium Code AFRS Recipe Number* Lime wedges * AFRS recipes can be found on the G4G website: click on Menu Revisions