Eating at fast food restaurants is not easy when you are trying to diet, but sometimes it's a fact of life that you need something fast and don't have the time to prepare your own meal. So if you absolutely have to settle for something like Taco Bell, even on Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet, be assured that you do have a few options. Here are some suggestions:

Taco Salad Express--A salad bowl filled with seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, hearty beans, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and sour cream. Chunky Salsa and crisp tortilla chips are served on the side, and you can also ask for it with marinated white meat chicken or carne asada steak. If you do this, our suggestion is to go with the chicken since the steak is likely a fattier cut than what is allowed on South Beach Phase 1. Also be sure to go easy on the cheese and sour cream if at all possible.

Zesty Chicken Border Bowl--A bowl filled with seasoned rice, hearty beans, marinated and grilled all-white-meat chicken, shredded lettuce, a blend of three cheeses, crunchy red strips, Fiesta Salsa, and Zesty dressing on the side. Ask for the rice and red tortilla strips to be omitted, and you've got a pretty good SBD Phase 1 option.

Pintos & Cheese--Tangy refried beans topped with cheese and red sauce. Tell them to go easy on the cheese and give you extra beans instead.

For your beverage, stick to water, diet soft drink, or coffee.