Taco Bell’s veggie power bowl is a popular plant-based option for those looking for a lighter meal at the fast food chain. But for people counting carbs or following a specific diet plan like keto, the carb content of menu items is an important factor in choosing what to order. In this article, we’ll take a close look at the veggie power bowl’s nutritional information and carb count so you can determine if it fits into your diet.
What is in the Taco Bell veggie power bowl?
The veggie power bowl contains the following ingredients:
– Romaine lettuce
– Black beans
– Reduced fat sour cream
– Guacamole
– Three cheese blend
– Pico de gallo
– Avocado ranch sauce
It does not contain any meat, making it a good vegetarian and vegan option at Taco Bell. The bowl combines leafy greens and vegetables with beans for added protein.
Nutrition information
According to Taco Bell’s website, here is the nutrition information for the veggie power bowl:
| Amount per serving | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Fiber | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bowl | 420 | 18g | 41g | 10g | 16g |
As you can see, the veggie power bowl contains a total of 41 grams of carbohydrates per serving. It also provides 10 grams of fiber and 16 grams of protein.
Calculating net carbs
To calculate the net carbs in the veggie power bowl, we take the total carbs and subtract the grams of fiber:
Total carbs: 41g
Fiber: 10g
Net carbs: 31g
Therefore, the net carb count comes out to 31 grams per veggie power bowl.
How net carbs are calculated
Net carbs are determined by subtracting the grams of fiber from the total carbohydrates. The idea is that fiber is a type of carb that our bodies cannot digest, so we don’t count it in the net carb total.
Fiber passes through our system undigested but still provides health benefits like keeping us full, promoting heart health, and feeding the good bacteria in the gut microbiome. So when counting carbs for a low carb or keto diet, it makes sense to exclude fiber from the tally.
Why net carbs matter
Paying attention to net carbs rather than just total carbs is important for anyone monitoring their carb intake, whether for weight loss, managing diabetes, or sticking to a low carb diet like the keto diet.
Grams of fiber have zero effect on blood sugar and insulin levels. So two foods can have the same amount of total carbs, but the one higher in fiber will have a lower glycemic response and impact on ketosis.
Knowing the net carbs allows us to accurately track the carbohydrates that do affect blood sugar. This helps ensure we stay within our daily carb limits.
How many carbs are allowed on a keto diet?
The standard ketogenic diet calls for keeping net carbs to around 25-50 grams per day in order to stay in ketosis. Some people aim for the lower end at around 20-25 grams for faster results.
So at 31 grams net carb per serving, the Taco Bell veggie power bowl fits into a keto diet, but it would take up most of your allotted daily carb intake.
Some keto dieters might avoid the bowl since it would leave little room for additional carbs the rest of the day. Others may fit it into their daily macros and make smart swaps for the rest of their meals and snacks.
Tips for ordering keto at Taco Bell
Here are some tips for customizing a Taco Bell order to make it more keto-friendly:
– Swap out rice for lettuce in items like burritos, tacos, and bowls
– Choose steak, chicken or veggie fillings instead of higher carb beef
– Ask for extra cheese, guacamole or pico de gallo for more fat
– Skip the tortilla in quesadillas and taco salads
– Order fresco style to replace cheese and sour cream with pico
– Get sauce and dressing on the side to control portion size
Being flexible and customizing your order can help you stay within your macros at a fast food spot like Taco Bell.
Comparing veggie power bowl to other Taco Bell menu items
To put the veggie power bowl’s 31g of net carbs into perspective, here’s how it compares to some other popular Taco Bell menu choices:
Burrito Supreme
– Total carbs: 45g
– Fiber: 5g
– Net carbs: 40g
The Burrito Supreme is one of the highest carb menu items. The large flour tortilla and rice significantly increase its carb count.
Crunchy Taco
– Total carbs: 13g
– Fiber: 3g
– Net carbs: 10g
A basic Crunchy Taco with just a corn shell and beef filling is a lower carb option at only 10g net carbs.
Soft Taco Supreme
– Total carbs: 20g
– Fiber: 3g
– Net carbs: 17g
With added sour cream, lettuce, tomato and cheese, the Soft Taco Supreme has more carbs than the crunchy version.
Chicken Quesadilla
– Total carbs: 36g
– Fiber: 3g
– Net carbs: 33g
At 33g net carbs, a Chicken Quesadilla clocks in similar to the veggie power bowl. The large tortilla drives up the carb count.
As you can see, carb counts can vary significantly across Taco Bell’s menu items. The veggie power bowl is a lower carb choice compared to flour tortilla products or rice-based options.
Low carb Taco Bell order ideas
Here are some ideas for constructing a low carb, keto-friendly meal at Taco Bell:
Keto Taco Bowl
– Seasoned beef or chicken
– Lettuce instead of rice
– Extra cheese
– Guacamole
– Pico de gallo
– Avocado ranch dressing
This simple bowl maximizes veggies and skips the carby rice.
Crispy Chicken Soft Taco
– Crispy tortilla shell
– Chicken
– Lettuce
– Pico
– Guacamole
– Cheese
The soft taco shell is lower carb than a traditional tortilla. Load it up with chicken, guac, and skip the rice.
Fresco Chicken Burrito
– Chicken
– Lettuce instead of rice
– Black beans
– Pico
– Guacamole
– Red sauce
Subbing in lettuce for rice reduces this burrito’s carb count. Choosing fresco style gets rid of the cheese and sour cream.
Burrito Bowl
– Steak or chicken
– Lettuce instead of rice
– Extra red sauce
– Hot salsa
– Side of guacamole
Another rice-free bowl with your meat and veggie toppings of choice. Boost the fat with guacamole on the side.
Should you have the veggie power bowl on keto?
The veggie power bowl can be part of a well-formulated keto diet, but there are a few factors to consider:
– At 31g net carbs, it will take up a significant portion of your daily limit and leave little room for other carbs.
– It does not contain any added sugars. Some of the total carb count comes from beans and reduced fat dairy.
– There is room to further modify the bowl and reduce carbs by subbing in lettuce for rice or skipping beans.
– The bowl provides protein from beans along with healthy fats from cheese, guacamole, and sour cream.
– The variety of nutrient-dense vegetables make it a healthier choice than many other fast food options.
Overall, the veggie power bowl can fit into a keto diet when planned for properly. Being mindful of your total net carb target for the day and making smart swaps helps this menu item align with a low carb lifestyle. It provides a veggies and plant-based protein, making it one of the better choices at Taco Bell.
Other tips for low carb eating at Taco Bell
Beyond customizing your bowl or burrito order, here are some other suggestions for reducing carbs when dining at Taco Bell:
– Opt for crispy tacos over soft flour tortillas. The crunchy corn shells are typically around 5g net carbs each.
– Skip rice and beans altogether or choose black beans if you want a little extra fiber and protein.
– Order size matters! You can make items lower carb by getting a side or small instead of a larger combo meal.
– Don’t forget to check carb counts if adding sauces and dressings since sugar is commonly added to these.
– Drinks add carbs too. Stick to unsweetened iced tea, water, or soda instead of sweetened lemonade or shakes.
– Check the “Fresco” section for swaps like pico instead of reduced fat sour cream.
– Feel free to ask for any substitutions or special requests to make menu items fit your diet needs!
Should you avoid Taco Bell on a keto diet?
With a little planning and customization, you can enjoy Taco Bell while staying in ketosis. The key is being selective with your order and conscious of carb counts. Base meals around lettuce, lean protein, guacamole, pico de gallo, and cheese. Avoid tortillas, rice, beans, and sugary drinks.
While not everything on the menu may be keto-approved, you have options to create satisfying low carb meals at Taco Bell. So you don’t necessarily have to avoid it altogether if you don’t mind moderating your choices.
Conclusion
The veggie power bowl at Taco Bell contains a total of 31 grams of net carbs according to current nutrition information. This is within the limits of a standard ketogenic diet, but would account for most of the average daily carb allowance on keto.
It can work for people following a low carb or keto eating pattern who don’t mind fitting the veggie bowl into their daily macros. Making certain customizations like subbing lettuce for rice and avoiding beans and dressings can reduce the carb count further.
While not every menu item is low carb, Taco Bell’s flexibility and variety of ingredients means you can achieve a keto fast food meal with the right choices. Understanding nutrition information, properly accounting for net carbs, and making smart substitutions allows you to incorporate options like the veggie power bowl into a low carb lifestyle.
