Are Burritos Healthy? [Benefits and Risks]

Burritos are fan favorites at most restaurants because of how delicious and versatile they are. No matter what kind of food you like, there’s a burrito for everyone.

But, are burritos healthy?

What makes a burrito healthy or unhealthy is the stuffing. Though the tortilla adds value to it, a burrito is about the ingredients you put inside it. The taste, the nutrients, the calories- it all changes with the stuffing. You can easily make your burrito healthy by choosing nutritious elements for it.

This is not all. We explained more- from their nutritional breakdown to the health benefits of different stuffings. Spare a few minutes and read along.

Are Burritos Healthy For You?

Burritos are absolutely healthy for you. Nutritious vegetables wrapped up in a soft tortilla- sounds like a quick and healthy meal.

The healthiness of it does depend mostly on the ingredients. However, the composition of it remains more or less the same for all burritos. And, so do the benefits and risks associated with it.

Benefits

Combined with all the vegetables, meat, and grains- burritos are surely a full package. So, they offer a lot of health benefits.

Burritos make a perfect healthy breakfast. They give you a good energy boost with the high carbs and protein content. Pack it up with your favorite veggies and it’ll give you full for a long time.

They’re full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. All these support your immune system if eaten in proper quantities. Try making a rainbow out of your vegetables to get the most out of your burrito.

If you’re trying to bodybuild and wondering, are burritos good for muscle building? The simple answer is, yes, they can be. Make sure to stuff your burrito with good quality protein instead of processed or red meat.

Burritos are also good sources of fiber. A good bean burrito can help with your constipation and improve your overall gut health.

Risks

With something as flavorful as burritos, it’s easy to overindulge sometimes. And that’s where it can become a problem

Burritos are full of fats, especially saturated fats. Eating too many burritos is in no way good for your health. It can lead to an early heart attack among other health problems.

If you’re wondering whether burritos are good for weight loss or not, then no, they’re not. Burritos are high in calories. They’ll put you in a caloric surplus, which you don’t want when trying to lose weight.

Burritos are also known to cause heartburns. The fat content can cause indigestion and ingredients like beans will cause acid reflux. So, avoid burritos if you frequently suffer from gas problems.

The cream, the meat, the guacamole- all these things are fatty ingredients. And as we all know, that much fat can’t be good for your heart. Although good fats can reduce bad cholesterol, too much fats can still ruin your heart health.

If you’re diabetic, then you should skip the burritos as well. Burritos are filled with carbs starting from the tortilla to the rice in it. It’ll instantly cause an insulin spike which makes burritos bad for diabetes.

In a nutshell, burritos can be healthy for you. You just need to choose the right ingredients for yourself.

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Nutritional Facts About An Average Burrito

Now, let’s take a look at the approximate nutritional values of a 100g burrito-

You can see in the table, the three kinds of burritos vastly differ in their nutritional values.

The beef burrito seems to have the highest calories, cholesterol and sodium. At first glance, surely it looks like the beef burrito is the unhealthiest among the three.

But there’s more to it. Every burrito recipe is different. A beef burrito with no cheese can be healthier compared to a bean burrito full of cheese.

So, it’s too soon to single out the beef burrito as the bad one. Let’s move to the next part to know the details about the healthiness of a burrito.

What Makes Up An Unhealthy Burrito?

Burritos are so simple yet so tasty. It’s understandable if you want to eat them everyday. If you love eating it, you should also know the effects of it on your health.

The Stuffings

As you already know, the stuffing makes the burrito. To decide the healthiness of a burrito, you need to make the insides healthy. The stuffing can be made up of anything you like. Even if it’s not usually used. It’s really up to you.

Here are some common ingredients put inside a burrito and how it affects the healthiness of it-

Cheese

Cheddar cheese is the most used cheese in burritos. It’s a great source of calcium, iron, vitamins A and K. But, it’s also high in saturated fat, which’ll increase your cholesterol levels.

Beef

We all can agree on the fact that beef is a delicious source of high-quality protein. But, it’s also a type of red meat. And, red meat is really bad for your heart when consumed a lot.

Chicken

Chicken is one of the healthiest animal meats. It’s low in saturated fat and high in essential amino acids and vitamins. It’s even higher in omega-6 fatty acids than other animals.

Beans

Beans are full of fiber, protein and a bunch of healthy minerals. They’re good for diabetes, weight control and heart health. Do remain a little cautious as they can cause gastric issues sometimes.

Sausage

Sausage is processed meat. You can already guess from the word “processed” that it’s not really healthy. It’s high in sodium and preservatives. That makes it really bad for the heart and increases cancer risk.

Rice

Rice is a great source of carbohydrates. Although it provides negligible health nutritional benefits, it’s fiber-rich and good for your stomach health. Too much of it’s still bad as it’s very starchy.

Vegetables

You can usually find lettuce, corn, tomatoes, zucchini, onions, and even mushrooms. Vegetables are always good for you unless you are allergic or suffer from certain conditions.

Guacamole

Guacamole is made of avocado. It’s full of healthy fats and essential nutrients. But even though it’s healthy, watch the amount as it’s high in calories and fats.

Condiments

Sour cream and ketchup are mostly used in burritos. They surely enhance the taste, but they’re not really good for your health. Sour cream is full of saturated fats while ketchup has a lot of sugar and salt. So, maybe you should consume them in moderation.

The Tortillas

Now, let’s talk about the main ingredient of a burrito, the tortilla. Some specific types of tortillas are used to wrap up a burrito.

Large flour tortillas are the most popular for making burritos. However, as popular as they may be, they’re made of refined carbs and contain excess sodium and additives.

Corn tortillas are less popular, but healthier. They are whole grain and contain less fat, calories and sodium.

Whole grain tortillas are becoming increasingly popular for burritos. They are made of whole wheat, packed with nutrients and fiber, and contain less calories.

If you’re looking for some healthy tortillas for your burritos, then don’t worry. We picked out the best options for you so you don’t have to look further-

How to Make A Burrito Healthy?

Your burrito can be healthy only if you want them to be. Swap out some ingredients for their healthier alternatives and you’ll have yourself a healthy wrap.

Here are 5 quick and easy ways you can make your burrito healthy-

1. Go for whole grain tortillas instead of regular flour ones.

2. Try quinoa, beans, or farro instead of rice.

3. If you want beans, opt for low sodium ones or cook some dried beans in water.

4. Skip the fatty condiments. You can find many homemade options for sour cream and burrito sauce.

5. Lean meat is always better than red meat. Try not to stuff your burrito with too much red or processed meat.

And that is how you can make a healthy burrito. Always remember, healthiness is a choice. So, it’s up to you to make your burrito healthy or unhealthy.

FAQs

Are Burritos Healthier Than Tacos?

Burritos and tacos are similar in composition and ingredients. But, tacos are smaller in size and can work as light snacks. Whereas, burritos are full meals. Tacos are similar to burritos in healthiness, they can be healthy if you want them to be.

Are Burritos Healthier Than Pizza?

Burritos are definitely healthier than pizzas. Pizzas contain a higher amount of carbs, fats, and calories. They’re also bigger in size. Burritos have a lower GI, packed with nutrients, and you can make them healthier if you want.

Is Burrito A Processed Food?

All burritos are not processed food, only frozen burritos are. Frozen burritos are convenient and have a longer shelf life. But, they contain too much sodium and preservatives. The quantity of nutrients is also way less compared to fresh burritos.

Final Verdict

So, are burritos healthy? Yes, they can be, if you want them to be.

What ingredients are you going to choose to make your own healthy version of burrito?

Let us know which one you liked the most. Good luck!