In the land of fast food, Taco Bell is an ever-changing assortment of fresh, fast, nontraditional food. While most drive-through restaurants thrive on burgers and fries, they strive to bring a diverse menu for an on-the-go individual. Taco Bell’s “food for all” menu has vegetarian, gluten-free, high protein, lower calorie or fat, and self-indulging choices. As of January 2023, 66% of Taco Bell’s menu is under 500 calories, making it an excellent choice for bariatric patients and dieters alike.
Taco Bell Bariatric-Friendly Menu
Following an ideal caloric intake of 1,000-1,200 calories daily after weight loss surgery breaks down each meal into about 350-400 calories. This makes Taco Bell a preferred choice for bariatric patients, with over half of their menu following bariatric guidelines. Their customizable menu consists of hearty, balanced meals making Taco Bell a dieter’s delight.
Breakfast
Whether you’re having a slow morning or running late, Taco Bell offers satisfying and fulfilling breakfast items to jump-start your day. Although Taco Bell isn’t recognized for its breakfast menu, there are a few hidden gems safe to keep you on track with your weight loss goals.
| Taco Bell Menu | Fat | Carbs | Protein | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito – Sausage (350 Cal) | 17g | 38g | 10g | 3g |
| Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito – Fiesta Potato (350 Cal) | 16g | 38g | 13g | 3g |
| Hash Brown (160 Cal) | 11g | 14g | 1g | 0g |
Lunch/Dinner
After scouring the Taco Bell website, we have compiled a list of the tastiest, most nutritious, and wholesome food items Taco Bell has to offer to make it easy to indulge your late-night cravings.
| Taco Bell Menu | Fat | Carbs | Protein | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Taco (160 Cal) | 5g | 16g | 12g | 1g |
| Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Tacos (170 Cal) | 9g | 13g | 8g | 1g |
| Crunchy Taco (170 Cal) | 10g | 13g | 8g | 0g |
| Soft Taco Beef (180 Cal) | 9g | 18g | 9g | 1g |
| Soft Taco Supreme- Chicken (190 Cal) | 7g | 18g | 13g | 1g |
| Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Tacos Supreme (190 Cal) | 11g | 16g | 8g | 2g |
| Crunchy Taco Supreme (190 Cal) | 11g | 15g | 8g | 2g |
| Soft Taco Supreme – Beef (210 Cal) | 10g | 20g | 9g | 2g |
| Chicken Chipotle Melt (190 Cal) | 9g | 16g | 12g | 1g |
Sides/Drinks
Most items on the lunch/dinner menu are under 200 calories, making them an excellent snack, depending on how you manage your daily diet. Besides that, Taco Bell does not have a lot of bite-size options if you are in need of a quick bite to eat.
| Taco Bell Menu | Fat | Carbs | Protein | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Beans (50 Cal) | 1.5g | 7g | 3g | 1.5 |
| Water (0 Cal) | 0g | 0g | 0g | 0g |
| Premium Roast Coffee Iced (0 Cal) | 0g | 0g | 0g | 0g |
| Premium Roast Coffee Hot (0 Cal) | 0g | 0g | 0g | 0g |
| Unsweetened Brisk Tea (0 Cal) | 0g | 0g | 0g | 0g |
Basic Precautions for Taco Bell
- Avoid Sugary Condiments/Sauces: Some condiments like mild sauce, medium sauce, hot sauce, or fire sauce should be avoided on a bariatric-friendly diet. Check out our condiments after bariatric surgery guide to help you find the best and worst sauces for your meals.
- Avoid Cheese: Cheese is a high-fat dairy product that, if removed, can lower the calorie content significantly of most Taco Bell food items. Taco Bell’s famous nacho cheese may sound like a great idea, but it is an empty calorie that can cause stomach pain and acid reflux.
- Avoid Sugary Beverages: Sugary drinks can cause dumping syndrome because of their high-sugar content and can add unwanted air into the stomach pouch resulting in gas pain. It may be tempting to order a cold signature Baja Blast Freeze on a hot day, but steer clear of empty calories.
- Don’t Drink from a Straw: Using a straw will introduce extra air into your new stomach pouch, causing gas pain and discomfort.
- Avoid Overeating: Meals should be no more than 4-6 ounces. Overeating can stretch out your stomach pouch and leave you feeling bloated and gassy.
By making simple modifications like this, you can enjoy delicious meals from Taco Bell while staying on track with your weight loss goals.
About Taco Bell
Glen Bell founded the Taco Bell chain of fast-food restaurants in 1962. PepsiCo bought Taco Bell in 1978 and later spun off its restaurant division as Yum! Brands, Inc. The restaurants serve tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, drinks, and desserts in their 7,767 locations. For the past 15 years, Taco Bell has worked on evolving its menu to provide customizable food to fit people’s lifestyles. With the help of their in-house dietitians, they have achieved these milestones:
- Simplifying the ingredients
- Reducing sodium
- Sourcing sustainable palm oil
- Using 100% cage-free eggs
- Sourcing quality proteins
- Offering better beverages
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