Enlightened barbacoa cauliflower pita tacos are a great meatless option for taco night that don’t skimp on flavor. But many health-conscious eaters still want to know – how many calories are actually in one of these meatless tacos? Let’s take a detailed look at the nutrition facts and do the math.
Calories in Enlightened Barbacoa Cauliflower
The star of these tacos is the barbacoa-flavored cauliflower made by Enlightened. This product is pre-seasoned, riced cauliflower that makes a quick, protein-packed taco filling. According to the nutrition label, here are the basics:
- Serving size: 1/2 cup
- Calories per serving: 60
- Total fat: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Total carbs: 8g
- Fiber: 5g
- Sugars: 1g
As you can see, a half cup of this cauliflower contains just 60 calories. It’s a great low-calorie base for our tacos.
Calories in Pita Bread
To turn our barbacoa cauliflower into tacos, we’ll need some pita bread. Most standard 6-inch white or wheat pitas contain about:
- Calories per pita: 165
- Total fat: 1.5g
- Protein: 5g
- Total carbs: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
So our pita shell adds roughly 165 calories to our tacos.
Calories in Taco Toppings
To finish off our tacos, we’ll add some traditional taco toppings. Here’s a look at how much a typical serving of each adds:
| Topping | Serving Size | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Shredded lettuce | 1/2 cup | 2 |
| Diced tomatoes | 1/4 cup | 12 |
| Shredded cheddar cheese | 1/4 cup | 113 |
| Salsa | 2 Tbsp | 10 |
| Sour cream | 1 Tbsp | 20 |
As shown, just small amounts of typical taco toppings add anywhere from 2-113 calories per serving. We’ll assume each taco contains about 1/4 cup total of assorted toppings, adding around 50 calories.
Putting It All Together
Now let’s add up the calories for one enlightened barbacoa cauliflower pita taco:
- 1/2 cup enlightened barbacoa cauliflower: 60 calories
- 1 pita: 165 calories
- 1/4 cup taco toppings: 50 calories
- Total calories per taco: 275
So each enlightened barbacoa cauliflower pita taco contains approximately 275 calories. Of course, the exact amount may vary slightly depending on the exact brands and amounts of each ingredient used. But this gives a good ballpark estimate.
Nutrition Benefits
At just 275 calories, these meatless tacos are a nutritious option. Here are some of the key benefits:
- High in protein: With 10g from the cauliflower and pita, you get about 20% of your daily protein needs.
- High in fiber: The cauliflower and pita provide 7g of fiber, or about 25% of your daily needs.
- Low in fat and saturated fat: With just 3.5g total fat per taco, these are a heart-healthy option.
- Packed with nutrients: In addition to protein and fiber, you get vitamin C from the tomatoes and lettuce, calcium from the cheese, and antioxidants from the salsa.
So at just 275 calories, you get an energizing, meatless meal that doesn’t weigh you down. It’s perfect for a light dinner or even a grab-and-go work lunch.
Serving Suggestions
To make a complete 275-calorie meal, consider pairing your enlightened barbacoa cauliflower taco with:
- 1/2 cup of black beans: 110 calories
- 1/2 cup of seasoned roasted sweet potato: 75 calories
- 15 baked tortilla chips: 140 calories
This brings your total meal to around 600 calories. Serve with a sparkling water or iced tea for a satisfying Mexican-inspired dinner under 650 calories.
For an even lighter meal, you could skip the chips and beans and just serve 2 tacos with roasted sweet potato for just 425 calories total.
Low-Calorie Seasonings
To boost flavor without adding significant calories, try seasoning your tacos with:
- Lime juice
- Cilantro
- Minced jalapeño or serrano pepper
- Minced garlic or garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
- Ground cumin
- Onion powder
Sprinkle on these herbs and spices to take your 275-calorie enlightened barbacoa cauliflower tacos to the next flavor level.
Meal Prep Tips
To save time during the busy work week, try prepping your taco ingredients in advance:
- Cook a batch of cauliflower on Sunday. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Chop lettuce, tomatoes, and any other veggies and store them separately in the fridge.
- Cook a batch of beans. Seal leftovers in individual 1/2 cup containers.
- Portion out servings of shredded cheese into snack bags.
Then on hectic weeknights, you can quickly assemble your tacos with no chopping required. Just reheat the cauliflower and you’ve got an easy 275-calorie dinner in minutes.
Substitution Ideas
Try these easy ingredient swaps to change up your taco flavor:
- Instead of pita bread, use corn tortillas (about 55 calories each) or lettuce wraps (5 calories each).
- Swap out the barbacoa cauliflower for riced cauliflower with taco seasoning.
- Instead of cheddar, use cotija, queso fresco, or vegan cheese.
- Replace the lettuce with thinly sliced cabbage, radish, or jicama.
- Swap diced mango or pineapple for the tomatoes.
With a few simple substitutions, you can easily change up the flavors while keeping those calorie counts in check.
More Low-Calorie Taco Ideas
If you love Mexican food, try more tacos under 300 calories using:
- Ground turkey or lean ground beef
- Shredded rotisserie chicken
- Sauteed shrimp
- Smoked tofu
- Black bean patties
- Jackfruit
- Portobello mushrooms
Top any of these 300-calorie protein options with lettuce, tomato, salsa, and a sprinkle of cheese for flavorful tacos that won’t break the calorie bank.
Conclusion
Enlightened barbacoa cauliflower pita tacos clock in at roughly 275 calories each. With protein, fiber and nutrients, they make a delicious plant-based taco option. Meal prep strategies like making cauliflower in advance help make these an easy weeknight dinner. At just 275 calories, you can feel good enjoying Mexican flavor any night of the week with these tasty meatless tacos.
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