After dipping its toes in the “Look, we offer healthy stuff, too!” waters with its Cantina Bell menu offerings, Taco Bell is now going back to doing what we all know it does best — selling cheap fast food that’s easy to eat to people who just want cheap fast food that’s easy to eat. The company has been testing its $1 Cravings value menu to replace its tiered “Why Pay More” idea, and will roll the $1 prices out nationally soon(ish).

According to the Associated Press, during a phone call with reporters yesterday executives sounded confident that they’ve figured out the right mix of food and cheapness for a national rollout this year… but are keeping the “when” part under wraps.

The $1 Cravings menu currently includes 12 items, including new noshes like Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadillas and a Beefy Nacho Loaded Griller. To get those items you’ll have to be in Kansas City, Mo. or Sacramento, Calif., at least for now.

It’s likely that Taco Bell wants this value menu to compete with rivals like McDonald’s and its Dollar Menu, and Burger King’s recent foray into the category. Meanwhile, we’re curious how these fast, cheap and cheesy eats will fit in with Taco Bell’s recent epiphany that “living mas” shouldn’t always make you fat.

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