Are Burritos Healthy? [Benefits and Risks]

Updated Date:
January 2, 2026

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.

Is Mac and Cheese Healthy? Calories, Nutrition, and a Awesome Recipe

Are Lean Cuisines Healthy? Secrets Revealed!

Is Potato Salad Healthy? [ 3 Best Potatoes for Potato Salad]

Nutritional Facts About An Average Burrito

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

Nutrition	Chicken Burrito	Beef Burrito	Beans Burrito
Calories	179 kcal	238 kcal	206 kcal
Fats	6 g	9 g	6 g
Cholesterol	21 mg	29 mg	2 mg
Carbohydrates	21 g	27 g	33 g
Protein	10 g	12 g	6 g
Sodium	564 mg	678 mg	454 mg
Potassium	264 mg	336 mg	301 mg

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-

Mission Carb Balance Whole Wheat Tortillas	Check for price
Maria & Ricardo’s Organic Whole Wheat Tortillas	Check for price

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-

Go for whole grain tortillas instead of regular flour ones.

Try quinoa, beans, or farro instead of rice.

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

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

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!

New Formula To Support Healthy WEIGHT LOSS

BUY NOW

Subscribe for New Racipies

Get mental health tips, updates, and resources delivered to your inbox.

Are Nutri Grain Bars Healthy? Expert Insights and Nutrition Analysis

Food & Nutrition

Christiana George

Updated Date:
January 4, 2026

‘Nutri’ and ‘grain’- reading this, you might be wondering if all the healthy stuff is infused in Nutri Grain bars, right? Nutri Grain bars are indeed one of the most popular snack food items on the market right now, but are Nutri Grain bars healthy as you might think?

Nutri Grain bars are marketed as nutritious, low-calorie snacks that contain lots of essential vitamins and minerals, like calcium and iron. Yet Nutri Grain bars aren’t as healthy as you might think; in fact, their high calorie and sugar content can do more harm than good if you eat them regularly.

Here are some reasons Nutri Grain bars may not be as healthy as you think they are and some healthier alternatives to fill you up!

Are Nutri Grain Bars Healthy?

Who doesn’t know the Nutri Grain bars you find at the grocery store? They’re those delicious, crunchy little bars made of whole grains and nuts that are supposedly good for you, right? However, it turns out not so much.

Here are a few reasons Nutri Grain bars may not be as healthy as you think they are

Excess Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, And Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils

Many people think that just because it’s healthy to eat whole grains like oatmeal or wheat toast, it must be good for you to eat Nutri Grain bars as well.

While Nutri-Grain bars contain some whole grains, they also contain a lot of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and hydrogenated vegetable oils. These ingredients can offset any health benefits that whole grains might provide.

Inclusion Of Unnecessary Ingredients

While some of the ingredients in Nutri Grain bars are healthy, like whole grains and dried fruit, there are also a lot of unnecessary ingredients like added sugars and artificial flavors. And while they may be advertised as all-natural, the ingredient list proves otherwise.

For example, one bar includes a natural maple flavor but also contains monosodium glutamate (MSG) as well as partially hydrogenated soybean oil.

Additives Contain Questionable Ingredients

If you take a look at the list of ingredients on a Nutri Grain bar, you’ll notice that many of them are additives. Additives are substances added to food to enhance its flavor, texture, or shelf life. These preservatives can be harmful to your health and may offset any benefits you would get from eating whole grains.

Some people avoid these additives because they may be unnatural and unhealthy. In fact, artificial sweeteners have been linked to an increased risk for cancer and neurotoxicity in lab animals!

Contains Low Protein And Fiber Content

Although Nutri Grain bars contain negligible vitamins and minerals, they lack protein and fiber. Protein and fiber are essential nutrients that help keep you feeling full and satisfied after eating.

Low-quality protein also means a reduced ability to build muscle, repair tissues, and fight inflammation. On the other hand, fiber helps with digestion and may also help regulate blood sugar levels by slowing down the release of sugar into the bloodstream.

Nutritional Value of Nutri Grain Bars

Let’s look at the nutritional value of nutri-grain bars.

Nutritional fact of kellog’s Nutri Grain bar Mixed berry – 1 bar (116 g)

Calories	130
Total fatSaturated fat	3 g0.5 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	105 mg
Potassium	85 mg
Total carbsDietary fiberSugar	25 g2 g13 g
Protein	2 g
CalciumIron.	2%4% of DV.

Source: USDA

While Nutri-Grain bars may be marketed as a healthy snack option, they may not be as healthy as you think.

For one, they are high in sugar. In fact, a single Nutri Grain bar can have up to 16 grams of sugar. All other flavors of these bars contain the same amount of sugar – plain strawberry (12 g), blueberry (13 g), and apple cinnamon (13 g).

Nonetheless, they also often contain large amounts of artificial sweeteners like sucralose, which may provide instant energy but has been linked to liver toxicity and stomach ulcers in the long run.

Moreover, there is no ingredient in the bars rich in protein, for which the protein content is equivalent to 1 g. It is not an ideal energy snack when you are on a diet or doing heavy workouts.

Finally, the fats found in many Nutri-Grain bars are typically unhealthy saturated fats that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Side Effects of Over Consuming Nutri Grain Bars

One mixed berry Nutri Grain bar from Kellogg’s contains 13 grams of sugar! Plus, the artificial ‘blueberry’ filling contains many additives. So, imagine what if you consume 4 bars at a time every day- that’s nearly 54 grams of added sugar, which is over the limit of the daily value (25-36 grams).

Compared to the number of calories in a single bar, which is 130-140, this much sugar content is insane.

Moreover, there is an unacceptable amount of sodium content in a single bar. The American Heart Association used to recommend 2300 mg of sodium daily in a normal adult’s diet, but now they recommend 1500 mg.

Covered by the sweetness of the bars, you may feel like there is no sodium in them. But unknowingly, you are consuming the same amount of salt as compared to a salty snack.

Sugar and salt are already slow poison that leads to many short- and long-term health problems.

Some side-effects of over-consuming Nutri-Grain bars include:

Spike in blood sugar
Abdominal pain
Allergic reactions
Weight gain/ obesity
Diabetes
Lower immune system
Spike in blood pressure.

You won’t see these side effects in a single day or two unless you don’t overeat these unhealthy Nutri-Grain bars.

Who Should Avoid Nutri Grain Bars

Don’t worry; Nutri-Grain bars are not fatal and won’t kill you! Since it contains many unhealthy ingredients and somewhat allergic ones, some people should eat it as little as possible or even avoid it.

People with celiac disease or gluten intolerance should avoid eating Nutri Grain bars as they contain gluten in the form of enriched flour to obtain that chewy texture.

Additionally, people with nut allergies should avoid them as they contain nuts.

Those following a vegan diet may also want to stay away from these bars as they may contain animal products like milk and eggs.

Even though Nutri-Grain bars are marketed as a healthy snack, they may not be the best choice for diabetic patients. This is because Nutri-Grain bars are high in sugar and carbs, which can cause blood sugar levels to spike. If you have diabetes, limit your Nutri Grain bar consumption to one or two bars a week.

Healthy Alternatives to Nutri Grain Bars

If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to Nutri-Grain bars, try making your own granola bars at home. Plenty of recipes online use healthy ingredients like oats, honey, and dried fruit. Not only are they filling, but nutritious too. With a few variations in flavor, it’s easy to make them taste just the way you want.

Meal-replacement shakes can also be an excellent option if you need something filling but don’t have time to prepare food. It takes just seconds to blend up a shake with yogurt, milk, protein powder (whey or soy), fruit, peanut butter or almond butter, and ice cubes. The options are limitless!

FAQs

Are Nutri-Grain bars good for weight loss?

Nutri Grain bars may not be the best choice if you’re trying to lose weight. Though they’re convenient and easy to eat on the go, they’re often high in sugar and calories, which can lead to weight gain. In the long run, if you continue to eat them on a daily basis, you may be able to gain weight instead of losing it.

Are Nutri-Grain bars vegan?

While many Nutri-Grain bars are vegan, some contain honey, which is a non-vegan ingredient. In addition, some of the flavors of Nutri-Grain bars contain dairy and other animal-based products.

So, it is always better to read the labels to see what ingredients are your preferred bars made of.

Are Nutri-Grain bars healthy for toddlers?

If you’re looking for a healthy snack for your toddler, Nutri Grain bars may not be the best choice. Because they’re high in sugar, the ingredients aren’t natural, there’s no nutritional value in the sugar, and they contain artificial flavors.

Moreover, they’re loaded with fats that raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. And finally, they don’t give children enough vitamins and minerals that they need to grow up strong and healthy!

Are Nutri-Grain bars good for diabetics?

While Nutri-Grain bars may be marketed as a healthy snack option, they may not be the best choice for people with diabetes. This is because Nutri-Grain bars are high in sugar and added sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to spike.

Final Thought

If you are thinking – are Nutri Grain bars healthy – it’s time to throw out Nutri-Grain bars from your regular diet. The high sugar and calorie content can offset any nutritional benefits, and the processed ingredients may not be ideal for everyone.

However, there is no harm in treating yourself with one bar once in a while. The bottom line is that there are healthier options out there than Nutri-Grain bars.