Taco Bell’s $5 boxes offer a convenient and affordable fast food meal option. With a main entree, side, and drink all for just $5, these combo boxes provide good value. However, with the growing focus on healthy eating and calorie-counting, many customers wonder just how many calories are in a $5 Taco Bell box. Let’s take a look at the calorie counts for the most popular $5 meal boxes at Taco Bell.
Overview of Taco Bell $5 Boxes
Taco Bell offers a variety of $5 meal boxes to choose from. The most popular options include:
Big Bell Box
– Beefy 5-Layer Burrito
– Crunchy Taco
– Medium Drink
– Cinnamon Twists
Double Chalupa Box
– Double Chalupa
– Crunchy Taco
– Medium Drink
– Cinnamon Twists
Cheesy Gordita Crunch Box
– Cheesy Gordita Crunch
– Crunchy Taco
– Medium Drink
– Cinnamon Twists
Triple Melt Burrito Box
– Triple Melt Burrito
– Crunchy Taco
– Medium Drink
– Cinnamon Twists
Chalupa Supreme Box
– Chalupa Supreme
– Crunchy Taco
– Medium Drink
– Cinnamon Twists
These are just a few examples of the $5 meal boxes at Taco Bell. Let’s now look at the calorie counts for each item in these popular combos.
Calories in Each $5 Box Item
To determine the total calories in a $5 box, we need to add up the calories for each item it contains. Here are the calorie counts for the most common entrees, sides, and drinks found in Taco Bell’s $5 boxes:
Entrees
| Entree | Calories |
|---|---|
| Beefy 5-Layer Burrito | 520 |
| Double Chalupa | 670 |
| Cheesy Gordita Crunch | 510 |
| Triple Melt Burrito | 630 |
| Chalupa Supreme | 500 |
As you can see, the main entree items range from 500 to 670 calories. The Double Chalupa is the highest at 670 calories.
Sides
| Side | Calories |
|---|---|
| Crunchy Taco | 170 |
| Cinnamon Twists | 180 |
The crunchy taco and cinnamon twists sides are very similar at around 170-180 calories each.
Drinks
| Drink | Calories |
|---|---|
| Medium Soft Drink | 220 |
Taco Bell’s medium soft drinks are all around 220 calories. This includes options like Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Sierra Mist.
Now that we know the calorie counts for each component, we can calculate the total for each $5 box.
Total Calories in Taco Bell $5 Boxes
Let’s add up the calories for the popular Big Bell Box:
– Beefy 5-Layer Burrito: 520 calories
– Crunchy Taco: 170 calories
– Medium Soft Drink: 220 calories
– Cinnamon Twists: 180 calories
Total Calories in Big Bell Box: 1,090
And for the Double Chalupa Box:
– Double Chalupa: 670 calories
– Crunchy Taco: 170 calories
– Medium Soft Drink: 220 calories
– Cinnamon Twists: 180 calories
Total Calories in Double Chalupa Box: 1,240
For the Cheesy Gordita Crunch Box:
– Cheesy Gordita Crunch: 510 calories
– Crunchy Taco: 170 calories
– Medium Soft Drink: 220 calories
– Cinnamon Twists: 180 calories
Total Calories in Cheesy Gordita Crunch Box: 1,080
The Triple Melt Burrito Box contains:
– Triple Melt Burrito: 630 calories
– Crunchy Taco: 170 calories
– Medium Soft Drink: 220 calories
– Cinnamon Twists: 180 calories
Total Calories in Triple Melt Burrito Box: 1,200
And finally, for the Chalupa Supreme Box:
– Chalupa Supreme: 500 calories
– Crunchy Taco: 170 calories
– Medium Soft Drink: 220 calories
– Cinnamon Twists: 180 calories
Total Calories in Chalupa Supreme Box: 1,070
As you can see, the total calories in a Taco Bell $5 box ranges from about 1,070 to 1,240. The Double Chalupa Box is the highest at 1,240 calories, while the Chalupa Supreme Box is the lowest at 1,070 calories. The other popular boxes fall in the 1,080 to 1,200 calorie range.
Nutritional Value of Taco Bell $5 Boxes
While the calorie counts of these meals are high, it’s also important to consider the nutritional value. Here’s a quick look at some of the nutrients found in Taco Bell’s $5 meal boxes:
– Protein: The entree items like burritos and chalupas provide 12-15g of protein. This helps you feel full and satisfied.
– Vitamins and Minerals: Ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes, beans, rice, and seasoning provide vitamins A, C, iron, and potassium.
– Fiber: A $5 meal box provides around 5-10g of dietary fiber from the whole wheat tortillas, rice, beans, and crunchy shell. Fiber aids digestion.
– Calcium: The cheese and creamy sauces provide a good amount of calcium for strong bones.
So while not incredibly low in calories, Taco Bell’s $5 boxes do provide important nutrients and fullness from protein and fiber that our bodies need.
Tips for Making Your Taco Bell Order Healthier
If you want to lighten up your Taco Bell $5 box, there are some easy ways to cut calories and boost nutrition:
– Swap beef for grilled chicken or steak – saves about 120-150 calories.
– Skip the creamy sauces and cheese – eliminates around 230 calories.
– Ask for a Fresco style burrito or taco – replaces cheese and sour cream with pico de gallo.
– Order soft tacos instead of crunchy shells – cuts around 60 calories.
– Opt for a Diet Pepsi instead of regular – saves about 70 calories.
– Only eat one serving of cinnamon twists instead of two – saves 90 calories.
With simple modifications like these, you can bring a $5 box from over 1,200 calories down to around 800-900 calories. While still high, those savings can add up over time.
Healthier Taco Bell Items Under 500 Calories
If you want to keep your Taco Bell order under 500 calories, here are some of the best options to choose:
Under 300 Calories
– Soft Tacos – Steak (240), Chicken (210)
– Fresco Crunchy Taco (170)
– Cinnamon Twists – 1 order (180)
300-500 Calories
– Bean Burrito (370)
– Chicken Quesadilla (320)
– Shredded Chicken Quesadilla Melt (430)
– Beefy Mini Quesadilla (320)
– Cheesy Roll Up (320)
– Soft Taco Supreme (340)
Load these up with tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, and other veggies to maximize nutrition and flavor while keeping calories in check. And be sure to avoid creamy sauces, cheese, tortilla chips, and sugary drinks.
Should You Eat a Taco Bell $5 Box Every Day?
While affordable and convenient, Taco Bell $5 boxes may not be the healthiest option if eaten daily. Here are some risks to keep in mind if making it a daily habit:
– High sodium intake – A $5 box provides over 1,500mg sodium, 70% of the daily limit. Excess sodium raises blood pressure risk.
– Weight gain – At over 1,000 calories in one meal, a daily $5 box can easily cause weight gain over time.
– Nutritional deficiencies – These meals are high in fat and sodium but low in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
– Increased processed food intake – Fast food meals contain high amounts of processed ingredients and preservatives that may have negative health effects over time.
– Food boredom – Eating the same meals every day leads to boredom with your diet, often resulting in overeating other less healthy foods.
As an occasional treat, Taco Bell $5 boxes are perfectly fine. But relying on them too often can take a toll on your health, budget, and taste buds. Consider limiting fast food meals to no more than a few times per week.
Healthier and Cheaper Meal Alternatives
If you want to eat healthy but on a budget, consider these meal ideas that cost around $5 or less:
Breakfast
– Oatmeal with banana and cinnamon
– Yogurt parfait with granola and fruit
– Toast with peanut butter and sliced apple
Lunch
– Tuna sandwich on whole grain bread with veggies
– Leftover roasted veggies and quinoa
– Adult lunchable with cheese, crackers, grapes
Dinner
– Veggie and bean burritos with salsa
– Pasta with jarred marinara sauce and spinach
– Roasted potato and chicken sheet pan meal
Snacks
– Apple or banana with peanut butter
– Trail mix or granola bar
– String cheese and whole grain crackers
With a little meal planning, you can eat nutritious homemade meals for around the same $5 price as fast food. This will provide more nutrients, variety, and control over ingredients.
Conclusion
Taco Bell’s $5 meal boxes provide a tempting fast food option for just a fiver. But with calorie counts ranging from 1,070 to 1,240, they may not be the healthiest choice for a daily habit. Occasionally enjoying these affordable combos is perfectly fine. But by making some simple swaps and home cooking balanced meals, you can eat healthier and save money in the long run. Moderation and variety are key to keeping both your budget and body happy.
