Are Amys gluten free burritos healthy?

Gluten free diets are becoming increasingly popular, leading many people to wonder if gluten free foods like Amy’s burritos are healthy options. In the opening section, we’ll answer some key questions about Amy’s burritos to help readers quickly understand the main points.

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Quick Answers

Are Amy’s gluten free burritos healthy?

Overall, Amy’s gluten free burritos can be a healthy option for those following a gluten free diet. However, it depends on the specific burrito variety, as some are healthier than others.

What are the pros of Amy’s gluten free burritos?

The pros of Amy’s gluten free burritos are that they are convenient, made with real food ingredients, vegetarian/vegan, organic, non-GMO, and free of gluten, dairy, lactose, nuts, and soy.

What are the cons of Amy’s gluten free burritos?

The main cons are that some varieties are high in sodium and saturated fat. Reading nutrition labels is important to find the healthiest options.

Introducing Amy’s Gluten Free Burritos

Amy’s Kitchen is a family-owned natural and organic food company started in 1987 by Rachel and Andy Berliner. Headquartered in Petaluma, California, Amy’s offers a wide range of packaged gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan foods from burritos to pizza and bowls to snacks.

Amy’s gluten free burritos come in a variety of flavors including bean and rice, bean and cheese, rice and beans, and veggie. They are made with real food ingredients like organic beans, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, spinach, and brown rice. The burritos are certified gluten free, dairy free, lactose free, nut free, soy free, kosher, and vegan/vegetarian depending on variety.

The burritos provide a quick, convenient meal for those following a gluten free diet. They take just minutes to heat up and are available at many grocery stores across the United States and Canada.

Nutritional Profile of Amy’s Gluten Free Burritos

When evaluating the healthiness of Amy’s gluten free burritos, it’s important to look at their nutritional profile. This includes calories, macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and any concerning ingredients.

Calories and Macronutrients

On average, Amy’s gluten free burritos contain around 300 calories per burrito. However, there is some variation between the different varieties:

Gluten Free Rice & Beans Burrito – 320 calories
Gluten Free Bean & Cheese Burrito – 300 calories
Gluten Free Bean & Rice Burrito – 280 calories

Gluten Free Veggie Burrito – 270 calories

The burritos are high in carbohydrates, particularly fiber, and contain 10-15 grams of protein per burrito. They are low in fat, with around 5-9 grams per burrito depending on variety. The main source of fat is cheese and oils used in cooking.

Vitamins and Minerals

Amy’s gluten free burritos provide a variety of vitamins and minerals:

Iron: 15-20% DV
Calcium: 10% DV
Potassium: 10% DV

Vitamin A: 10-15% DV
Vitamin C: 10-20% DV

The exact amounts vary based on burrito type. The vitamins and minerals come primarily from the beans, rice, cheese, and veggies used to make the burritos.

Ingredients

Amy’s gluten free burritos use simple, recognizable ingredients:

Beans – pinto, black, kidney
Rice – brown rice or brown rice flour

Cheese – real cheddar or mozzarella
Vegetables – tomatoes, spinach, onions, peppers
Seasonings – sea salt, garlic, cumin, chili powder

Oils – olive, sunflower, safflower

There are no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The ingredients are non-GMO, organic, and ethically sourced when possible.

Sodium Content

One potential nutritional downside is that Amy’s gluten free burritos are high in sodium, with around 600-700 mg per burrito. The World Health Organization recommends limiting sodium to 2,000 mg per day, so one burrito provides almost a third of that amount.

The high sodium content comes primarily from the cheese, beans, seasonings, and preservatives used to keep the burritos shelf-stable.

Health Benefits of Amy’s Gluten Free Burritos

Despite the high sodium content, Amy’s gluten free burritos do provide some valuable health benefits:

Gluten Free

The burritos are certified gluten free, making them safe for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. They use ingredients like brown rice and beans instead of wheat.

High Fiber

Amy’s burritos are high in fiber, with around 5-7 grams per burrito. This is 20-30% of the recommended daily fiber intake. Fiber aids healthy digestion and helps reduce cholesterol.

Vegetarian/Vegan Protein

The burritos contain 10-15 grams of plant-based protein from the beans, rice, and sometimes cheese. This makes them a convenient vegetarian/vegan protein source.

Provides Micronutrients

As discussed earlier, the burritos provide iron, calcium, potassium, vitamins A and C. These nutrients are important for energy, bone health, immunity, vision, and more.

Low in Fat and Calories

Compared to other frozen meals, Amy’s burritos are relatively low in calories and fat. They make a lighter meal choice in the frozen aisle.

Comparing Different Amy’s Burrito Varieties

While Amy’s burritos are generally healthy, some varieties are better than others. Here’s a comparison:

Bean and Rice

The bean and rice burrito is one of the healthier options. With 280 calories, 29g carbs, 5g fat, and 13g protein, it offers a balanced macronutrient profile. It’s high in fiber with 7g per burrito and provides a number of vitamins and minerals as well.

Rice and Beans

Very similar nutrition profile to bean and rice but slightly higher in calories at 320 per burrito. It also has 6g fiber, 14g protein, 6g fat, and 750mg sodium. Overall a decent choice.

Bean and Cheese

While tasty, the bean and cheese burrito is more processed and higher in sodium at 700mg. It has 300 calories, 11g fat, and 15g protein. The cheese adds more saturated fat than the other varieties.

Veggie Burrito

The veggie burrito is the lowest in calories at 270 per burrito. It has 6g fiber, 6g protein, and 4.5g fat. The lower fat and higher vegetable content makes this one of the healthier options of the bunch.

To visualize the nutrition comparison, see the table below:

Variety	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Fiber	Sodium
Bean and Rice	280	29g	5g	13g	7g	600mg
Rice and Beans	320	45g	6g	14g	6g	750mg
Bean and Cheese	300	36g	11g	15g	5g	700mg
Veggie	270	39g	4.5g	6g	6g	600mg

Tips for Choosing Healthy Amy’s Burritos

When purchasing Amy’s gluten free burritos, keep these tips in mind:

Compare nutrition labels – look for lower sodium, fat, and calories

Aim for at least 5g fiber per burrito
Look for 10-15g protein
Choose veggie or bean-based over cheese-heavy

Enjoy burritos in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet
Pair with fresh veggies, fruit, nuts for added nutrition
If reheating, opt for toaster oven instead of microwave to avoid sogginess

Healthier Alternatives to Amy’s Burritos

While Amy’s burritos can be a decent gluten-free option, there are some even healthier alternatives to consider:

Make Your Own Burritos

Making homemade burritos allows you to control the ingredients and sodium content. Fill a brown rice or gluten-free tortilla with beans, veggies, avocado, etc. for a fresher, healthier meal.

Other Amy’s Items

Amy’s offers products beyond burritos that are lower in sodium, like their gluten free Rice Mac & Cheeze or veggie-packed enchiladas.

Caulipower Frozen Burritos

Caulipower makes cauliflower-based tortilla burritos that are gluten-free and lower in carbs. Flavors like chipotle black bean and masala are worth trying.

Siete Foods Burritos

Siete Foods has grain-free burritos in flavors like chipotle cashew queso and plantain mole that use healthier avocado oil and coconut flour tortillas.