A bean and cheese burrito from Taco Bell contains approximately 370 calories. This burrito is one of the many menu items available at Taco Bell, which is an American fast food restaurant chain specializing in Tex-Mex cuisine. Taco Bell is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. and serves tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and other Tex-Mex food items.
Overview of Taco Bell
Taco Bell was founded by Glen Bell in 1962 in Downey, California. The first Taco Bell location opened in 1962 and sold 19 cent tacos and burritos. Since then, Taco Bell has grown to become one of the largest fast food chains in the United States, with over 7,000 restaurants across the country. Some key facts about Taco Bell include:
– Headquarters: Irvine, California
– CEO: Mark King
– Number of Locations: Over 7,000 restaurants in the U.S.
– Cuuisine: Tex-Mex fast food featuring tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, novelty and specialty items
– Popular Menu Items: Tacos, Burritos, Quesadillas, Nachos, Chalupas, Gorditas, Doritos Locos Tacos, Crunchwrap Supreme
– Parent Company: Yum! Brands, Inc. which also owns KFC, Pizza Hut, WingStreet, and Habit Burger Grill
Taco Bell serves a wide variety of Tex-Mex inspired fast food items. Some of their most popular menu items include tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, chalupas, gorditas, Doritos Locos Tacos, and the Crunchwrap Supreme. Taco Bell is known for its creative and unique takes on traditional Tex-Mex dishes.
Bean and Cheese Burrito
The bean and cheese burrito is one of the many burritos options at Taco Bell. Here are some key details about this menu item:
– Cost: $1.29
– Ingredients: Refried beans, cheddar cheese, red sauce, onions, wrapped in a soft flour tortilla
– Customization Options: Add beef, chicken, or steak for an additional charge
– Description: This burrito contains Taco Bell’s re-fried beans and cheddar cheese, wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. It’s topped with their signature red sauce and onions.
The bean and cheese burrito provides a simple meatless option at Taco Bell. It takes their classic re-fried beans and melty cheddar cheese and wraps them up into a portable burrito. The onions and red sauce give it some extra flavor.
Many customers appreciate having a vegetarian and budget-friendly option like the bean and cheese burrito on the Taco Bell menu. It’s a simple no-frills burrito that focuses on the key flavors of beans and cheese.
Nutritional Information
When looking at the Taco Bell nutritional information, a regular bean and cheese burrito contains the following:
Calories: 370 calories
– Total Fat: 12g
– Saturated Fat: 6g
– Trans Fat: 0g
– Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g
– Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g
– Cholesterol: 25mg
– Sodium: 830mg
– Carbs: 51g
– Dietary Fiber: 8g
– Sugars: 2g
– Protein: 12g
So the main thing to note is that a regular Taco Bell bean and cheese burrito contains 370 total calories. This provides a lot of helpful nutritional information for customers interested in this menu item.
Some other key nutritional facts for the bean and cheese burrito include:
– 370 calories makes this a higher calorie menu item at Taco Bell. Heavier than a basic taco or soft taco.
– 51g of carbohydrates, which is a significant amount coming mainly from the tortilla and beans.
– 12g of protein provides a good protein boost.
– 830mg of sodium is quite high, so something to watch out for.
– 12g of total fat with 6g saturated fat.
When comparing the bean and cheese burrito to other Taco Bell items, it lands on the higher side for calories and sodium. But it remains lower in calories than many of Taco Bell’s speciality burritos which can contain 500+ calories.
How the Bean and Cheese Burrito Fits Into a Calorie Budget
When trying to maintain a daily calorie budget or follow a weight loss diet, the 370 calories in a Taco Bell bean and cheese burrito represents a significant portion of many people’s daily calorie intake.
Here is how the bean and cheese burrito may fit into different calorie budget examples:
1,200 Calorie Diet
On a 1,200 calorie diet, the Taco Bell bean and cheese burrito would account for about 31% of the total daily calorie intake. It would make up a large portion of one meal, leaving limited calories left for other meals and snacks that day. People following a 1,200 calorie diet would need to plan the rest of their meals accordingly.
1,500 Calorie Diet
For a 1,500 calorie diet, the bean and cheese burrito would equate to 25% of the total daily calories. This still represents a significant meal, taking up a quarter of the calorie budget. The burrito could reasonably fit into this diet with careful planning of other meals and snacks for the day.
2,000 Calorie Diet
On a 2,000 calorie diet, the Taco Bell burrito would account for 19% of the total daily calories. For most people following a standard 2,000 calorie diet, this burrito could likely fit reasonably well within their daily calorie budget. It could be paired with lighter meals and snacks to make up the remaining 81% of calories.
So in summary, the higher 370 calories in the Taco Bell bean and cheese burrito would need to be accounted for carefully when following lower calorie diet plans like 1,200 or 1,500 calories per day. But it could likely fit without too much trouble into a standard 2,000 calorie diet.
Tips for Making the Bean and Cheese Burrito Fit Your Diet
Here are some tips for enjoying the Taco Bell bean and cheese burrito while still meeting your dietary goals:
– **Downsize from a regular to a value menu burrito** – Ordering the bean burrito from the value menu reduces calories to 200 and save you 170 calories.
– **Skip the red sauce** – Removing the savory red sauce saves about 40 calories.
– **Go light on other meal components** – Pair it with lower calorie sides like cilantro rice (120 calories) or black beans (80 calories).
– **Split it in half and share** – Cut the burrito in two and share with a friend to reduce your personal calories by half.
– **Make it your only restaurant meal of the day** – Avoid additional restaurant meals and heavier snacks on a day you indulge in the burrito.
– **Hydrate with water** – Drink water with your meal instead of high calorie sodas or lemonade.
– **Balance with activity** – If dining frequently at Taco Bell, aim for higher activity levels on those days to allow for the extra calories.
– **Watch sodium if needed** – Be mindful of the high 830mg sodium if limiting salt intake.
With small tweaks and balanced choices for other meals, the bean and cheese burrito can be worked into almost any healthy eating plan. Moderation and customization when ordering are key!
Comparing Beans and Cheese Burrito Calories at Other Mexican Chains
Taco Bell is not the only Mexican fast food chain with a beans and cheese burrito on the menu. Here is how Taco Bell’s burrito compares calorie-wise to the similar options at other popular chains:
Chipotle
– Beans & Cheese Burrito – 300 calories
– 70 calories less than Taco Bell
Qdoba
– Beans & Cheese Burrito – 400 calories
– 30 calories more than Taco Bell
Moe’s Southwest Grill
– Bean & Cheese Burrito – 300 calories
– 70 calories less than Taco Bell
Del Taco
– Bean & Cheese Burrito – 350 calories
– 20 calories less than Taco Bell
Among the major chains, the Taco Bell bean and cheese burrito is on the higher end for calorie content compared to similar menu items at Chipotle and Moe’s Southwest Grill. Qdoba and Del Taco come closer to Taco Bell’s burrito calorie count.
When dining at any of these restaurants, be sure to check their latest nutritional data to make the best selection for your diet. The calorie differences of 70-100 calories between chains can add up over time.
Should You Order the Bean and Cheese Burrito at Taco Bell?
So should you include the bean and cheese burrito in your Taco Bell order? Here are some factors to consider:
**Pros**
– It’s inexpensive, typically under $2
– It provides fiber, protein, and nutrients from the beans
– Allows for customization like removing sauce or adding veggies
– It’s meatless and can satisfy a vegetarian diet
– Lower in fat than some other Taco Bell menu choices
**Cons**
– At 370 calories it’s one of the higher calorie options on the menu
– Very high in sodium at 830mg per burrito
– Higher in carbs at 51g coming largely from the tortilla and beans
– Cheese and red sauce add more saturated fat and calories
Overall, an occasional Taco Bell bean and cheese burrito can fit into a balanced diet for most people. Limiting high-calorie customizations and pairing it with lighter sides is best. People restricting calories or carbs should use extra caution and may want to try lower calorie alternative menu items instead. But for a quick, meatless Tex-Mex meal, it can be a fine choice in moderation.
Conclusion
A bean and cheese burrito from Taco Bell contains 370 calories and 51g of carbohydrates along with 12g of protein. With 830mg of sodium per burrito, this popular menu item is relatively high in salt as well. At nearly one quarter to one third of a day’s calories for many dieters, careful consideration should be made to account for the bean and cheese burrito within your daily meal plan. Using customization options and balanced choices for other meals can help this meatless burrito fit reasonably well into an overall healthy diet with moderation. Checking the calorie differences between Taco Bell and other chains can also help select the best option when craving a beans and cheese burrito.
