Fast food is delicious, affordable, and convenient, but it is also very high in calories. For people watching their weight or otherwise trying to eat healthy, it’s important to understand just how many calories are in popular fast food meals. One such item is the Taco Bell $5 Double Chalupa Box. In this article, we’ll break down the full nutrition facts and calculate the total calories in a $5 Double Chalupa Box from Taco Bell.
What’s in the $5 Double Chalupa Box?
The $5 Double Chalupa Box from Taco Bell contains the following items:
- 1 Double Chalupa Supreme
- 1 Beefy 5-Layer Burrito
- 1 Crunchy Taco
- 1 Medium Drink
Now let’s look at the nutrition information for each item to determine the total calories.
Double Chalupa Supreme Calories
The Double Chalupa Supreme contains the following nutrition per serving:
- Calories: 480
- Total Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
- Sodium: 1330mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 56g
- Dietary Fiber: 6g
- Sugars: 3g
- Protein: 19g
As you can see, the Double Chalupa Supreme contains 480 calories on its own. That’s already nearly a quarter of the recommended daily calorie intake for an average adult!
Beefy 5-Layer Burrito Calories
Here is the nutrition data for the Beefy 5-Layer Burrito:
- Calories: 500
- Total Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
- Sodium: 1010mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 63g
- Dietary Fiber: 8g
- Sugars: 3g
- Protein: 19g
The Beefy 5-Layer Burrito also packs a caloric punch with 500 calories per serving.
Crunchy Taco Calories
Moving on to the Crunchy Taco, the nutrition information is:
- Calories: 170
- Total Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
- Sodium: 310mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 17g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 1g
- Protein: 7g
With 170 calories, the Crunchy Taco is lower in calories than the other items.
Medium Drink Calories
The final component is the Medium Drink. This can vary greatly depending on what you choose to drink. Here are some common options and their approximate calories:
| Drink | Calories (medium) |
|---|---|
| Pepsi | 240 |
| Diet Pepsi | 0 |
| Mountain Dew | 270 |
| Orange Juice | 210 |
| Sweet Tea | 270 |
| Lemonade | 250 |
As you can see, regular soft drinks, juice, and sweet tea can all add over 200 extra calories to your meal. Going with a calorie-free diet soda is the best option for limiting calories.
Total Calories in a $5 Double Chalupa Box
Now let’s add up the calories:
- Double Chalupa Supreme: 480 calories
- Beefy 5-Layer Burrito: 500 calories
- Crunchy Taco: 170 calories
- Medium Drink: 0-270 calories
That brings the total calories to 1,150 – 1,420 calories, depending on the drink choice. Whoa! No wonder fast food meals have a reputation for being calorie bombs.
Daily Calorie Needs
To put those meal calories into perspective, here are the recommended daily calorie intakes for different groups:
- Sedentary women: 1,600-2,000 calories
- Sedentary men: 2,000-2,600 calories
- Active women: 2,000-2,400 calories
- Active men: 2,400-3,000 calories
As you can see, the $5 Double Chalupa Box provides over half the calories needed for an entire day for many people, especially sedentary women. While the occasional indulgence is fine, consuming meals with this many calories regularly can lead to weight gain over time.
Tips for Reducing Calories
Here are some tips for reducing calories if you want to indulge in fast food occasionally without going overboard:
- Order smaller sized meals or kid’s meals
- Swap out sugary drinks for water or unsweetened tea
- Share large meals with a friend
- Load up on veggies and go easy on condiments
- Opt for grilled chicken instead of beef
- Split a meal into two smaller meals throughout the day
Making simple tweaks like these can lead to hundreds fewer calories consumed in a fast food meal.
Should You Eat a $5 Double Chalupa Box?
At the end of the day, whether or not you should indulge in a $5 Double Chalupa Box comes down to your overall diet and lifestyle. If you’re otherwise eating healthy and exercising regularly, then enjoying one of these calorie-laden meals occasionally isn’t going to ruin your health. However, if you’re routinely consuming fast food multiple times per week, all those calories can really add up. Moderation is key.
Pay attention to your body, activity levels, and weight goals to determine if and how often you want to indulge in fast food meals. And when you do, be mindful of all the calories they contain. That will help you enjoy your food while still staying healthy.
Conclusion
The $5 Double Chalupa Box from Taco Bell contains a whopping 1,150 – 1,420 calories, depending on drink choice. For many people, that’s over half the recommended daily calorie intake. While the occasional fast food indulgence is fine, regularly consuming meals with this many calories can lead to weight gain over time. Use nutrition awareness and moderation to balance your cravings with your health goals.
