When Laura Tucker was growing up, Family Taco Night wasn’t just a dinner.  It was an event.  A mealtime favorite for all, the entire family pitched in to prepare all the possible toppings while her mom browned and seasoned the ground beef.  “It was so exciting when Mom announced it was going to be Taco Night.  My dad and I used to beg her to make them,” said Laura.  “And even as an adult, it’s still an event.”

So what makes Taco Night such a favorite for so many families?  Reasons include:

• They are easy to make.
• Tacos meet the dietary standard for virtually every appetite. Seriously, who doesn’t love tacos?  Even the pickiest eater will find something to like.  And they work for both carnivores and vegetarians without having to make two separate meals!
• Taco Nights make dinner an interactive meal experience that tends to encourage conversation.

Really, the only debate that happens on Taco Night is the age-old controversy that has plagued families across the country for years—hard shell or soft?

With all that said, setting up a perfect Taco Night is easy, and a fun way to guarantee everyone shows up at dinner time!

Taco night should include:

• MEATS: Ground beef or shredded chicken.  Grilled shrimp is a great option, too.
• SHELLS: Thankfully, the hard shell/soft shell debate can be easily settled.  Just have both.  The low-carb enthusiasts can enjoy tacos on a lettuce leaf (iceberg being the best option in this case).
• VEGGIES: Shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and diced onions.
• OPTIONAL TOPPINGS: Diced avocado, cilantro, radishes, jalapenos, and black olives.
• CHEESE: Lots of it!
• OTHER: Salsa, sour cream, guacamole, wedges of lime.
• SIDES: Mexican rice, black beans and/or pinto beans.

Tacos are filling and, frankly, it’s comfort food that can (not always) have a healthy twist.  Admittedly, taco calories are diverse, depending on the one who is doing the assembly work.

With all that said, schedule your own Taco Night soon!  And for some added fun, consider adding some fun quotes about Tacos to each place setting. Some ideas include:

• Inhale tacos. Exhale negativity.
• The only bad taco is the one you didn’t eat.
• People need to understand the difference between wants and needs. Like I want abs, but I need tacos.
• Yesterday, I really wanted tacos. Now I’m eating tacos.  Follow your dreams.
• All I’m saying is you’ve never seen me crying and eating tacos at the same time.
• I eat tacos over a tortilla so that when stuff falls out—Boom! Another taco!
• Thank goodness I don’t have to hunt for my own food. I don’t even know where tacos live.
• I want to start juicing, but I’m hesitant because I don’t know how to juice tacos.
• You cannot make everybody happy. You are not a taco.
• Feed me tacos and tell me I’m pretty.

Here’s to Tacos anytime!