Taco Bell Items to Avoid and Healthier Options to Try Instead

Almost every restaurant and fast-food chain, has selections on its menu that may not be the healthiest options. If you find yourself at the home of the chalupa, and are looking for something that is a bit more wholesome, this doesn't mean you'll be left with nothing but water. But you have to be careful. Taco Bell's menu features some diet-busting items that are high in sodium, calories, carbohydrates, and have other unnecessary ingredients.

It might be ok to enjoy the flavorful, cheesy goodness of most Taco Bell items on occasion but keep in mind the nutritional profile of these particular calorie bombs. We delve into the most unhealthy items offered at Taco Bell, break down their nutritional profile, and other things to look out for. There are healthier items available at this fast food chain and we also go into detail for those who want healthier options.  

The History of Taco Bell

Taco Bell was inspired by Mitla Cafe, a San Bernadino, California-based cafe that sold hard-shell tacos for great prices. This cafe was opened in 1937 right off Route 66, which made it a great destination for travelers. In 1951, Glenn Bell, a frequent Mitla customer, decided to expand the menu and mass-produce Mitla's delicious hard shell tacos.

He adopted a fast-food model similar to McDonald's, which had opened only a few miles away from Mitla cafe (via BBC). The very first Taco Bell was opened in 1964 and began immediate franchising. According to Statista, modern-day Taco Bell has over 8,000 restaurants, worldwide. It continues to be a main player in the fast-food scene, with a hugely expanded menu from those first hard-shell tacos, reward programs, mobile ordering, and so much more (via Taco Bell).

The Most Unhealthy Taco Bell Foods

1. Grilled Cheese Burrito

Starting off with the Grilled Cheese Burrito which clocks in at 710 calories. It has 39 grams of total fat, with 16 grams of saturated fat. While it does deliver 25 grams of protein, it also has 5 grams of sugar, 64 grams of carbohydrates, and a whopping 1,500 milligrams of sodium. For the remainder of this list, it's good to know that the recommended daily sodium intake for adults is around 2,300 milligrams. So, this single menu item from Taco Bell is almost all your daily recommended allowance of salt.

2. Nachos BellGrande

Next up, we have the Nachos BellGrande. Anything with “grande” in the title, for many fast food chains, you can expect a double dose of unhealthy ingredients. This item has 730 calories to its name, with 38 grams of total fat, 81 grams of carbohydrates, and 1,130 milligrams of sodium. That's around half the recommended daily intake.

While 730 calories may not seem like the highest number, these nachos are topped with fatty, salty beef, cheese sauce, and other unhealthy toppings. According to Yahoo, nutritionists consider this one of the worst Taco Bell food items because it has such a high carbohydrate and saturated fat content. These ingredients can lead to more cravings and overeating.

3. Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito

Sometimes when we see an item has no meat, we think it's healthier but in this instance, no meat doesn't equate good for you. The cheesy bean and rice burrito clocks in at 420 calories, which is much lower than the previous two items, and has 17 grams of total fat, 55 grams of carbohydrates, and 940 milligrams of sodium.

4. The Breakfast Crunchwrap Sausage

Now we have the Breakfast Crunchwrap Sausage, which is essentially a burrito packed with ingredients. This burrito, without meat, has 750 calories, 53 grams of carbohydrates, 49 grams of fat, and 21 grams of protein. But of course, its sodium count clocks in at 1,210 milligrams. What a salty way to start your morning!

5. Cheesy Gordita Crunch

Next up, the Cheesy Gordita Crunch. This item features a flatbread base, with three cheeses, and a crunchy hard-shell interior, with beef, spicy ranch, lettuce, and more shredded cheese. This far into the list, a few of those ingredients should raise some red calorie flags. This item has 490 calories, with 28 grams of total fat, 41 grams of carbohydrates, and 20 grams of protein. It has 840 milligrams of sodium, the lowest on this list, but if you have more than two of these, you're well above the daily sodium limit.

6. Beefy 5-Layer Burrito

And last, but not least, for this list, we have the Beefy 5-Layer Burrito. Also at 490 calories, eat four of these and you're nearly at the suggested daily calorie limit for adult females. Enjoy five, and you're just below the calorie limit for adult males. This burrito has 18 grams of total fat, 65 grams of carbohydrates, and 18 grams of protein. It has 1,260 milligrams of sodium per serving. Consisting of zero lettuce, beans and cheese, nacho cheese sauce, sodium-saturated beef, and *reduced fat sour cream. Add any toppings and this order is sure to go into the red pretty quickly. Keep in mind, that many of these unhealthy Taco Bell foods can be customized. Add more vegetables, and less salty meats to be healthier.

What To Order Instead

Alright, now that you know what to look out for, let's take a look at some of the healthier options available at Taco Bell. You've got the crunchy taco a shredded chicken quesadilla, the classic bean burrito, triple layer nachos, and a power menu veggie bowl that won't upset your nutritional goals.

1. Shredded Chicken Quesadilla Melt

The shredded chicken quesadilla melt has 260 calories, and only 560 milligrams of sodium. All things considered, it's pretty basic in terms of ingredients. You're getting a good dose of protein (7 grams) from the shredded chicken, and only 36 grams of carbohydrates. Add a side of rice and some beans, and this menu item is a great jumping-off point at Taco Bell.

2. Bean Burrito

The bean burrito is not only tasty but one of the healthiest options at Taco Bell. At 350 calories, it's very straightforward with beans, cheese, and a flour tortilla. It has 9 grams of total fat, 55 grams of carbohydrates, and 13 grams of protein. Note that the sodium levels on this order do hit just above 1,000, so enjoy these burritos in moderation.

3. Crunchy Taco

The crunchy taco has only 170 calories, 300 milligrams of sodium, and 13 grams of carbohydrates. It delivers 8 grams of protein and only 10 grams of total fat. You can further customize this with fresh vegetable toppings, rice, beans, and low-fat sour cream for added nutritional value.

4. Chips and Guacamole

While the word “triple” may throw you off, these chips and guacamole only have 240 calories to their name. The guacamole adds 3 grams of protein and 16 grams of total fat. Sodium clocks in at 240 per serving.

5. Power Menu Veggie Bowl

And last, the veggie bowl from Taco Bell's “Power Menu.” This dish has 420 calories, 20 grams of total fat, 47 grams of carbohydrates, and 12 grams of protein. It has 870 milligrams of sodium, but it's a pretty comprehensive meal. This dish comes with beans, rice, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. You can add in meats, more fresh chopped tomatoes, and other healthy additions.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©lawcain / iStock Editorial via Getty Images.