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Stop Everything: Tacos are Healthier than Granola Bars, Study Says

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As Newsweek reports, a recent study from the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLA) in Mexico revealed pork tacos have fewer calories than granola bars, and in some ways, are even healthier overall. The study compared the nutrition facts of pork tacos (and las flautas de cochinita pibíl, a similar dish made with slow-roasted pork wrapped in small tortillas) and the results are nothing short of a taco-lover’s dream.

On average, the tacos contained 20.77 percent carbohydrates and the flautas contained 40.7 percent. Tacos and the flautas contained around the same amount of fat, around 11.5 and 11.92 percent respectively, while granola bars contain a much higher amount—around 20 to 30 percent, depending on the brand. In terms of protein, the tacos come out on top again, boasting 23.51 percent, while the flautas have a minuscule 4 percent. And before you think it, these dishes weren’t measured without any sauce or sour cream either. According to the study, both the tacos and flautas were ordered with all the typical additional toppings: tacos with onions, cilantro, pineapple, lemon and salsa taquera, and flautas with sour cream, cheese, red onions and salsa bandera.

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But this isn’t the first time the health benefits of tacos have been studied. In 2013, a study showed that in terms of fat content, both pork tacos and the aforementioned flautas are healthier than donuts, French fries and fiber bars. A Chicago-based man recently even claimed to have lost 50 pounds by changing his diet to 80 percent tacos, or 12 homemade tacos per day, according to the New York Post.

It’s no secret that the influx of sugar, preservatives and other added ingredients within granola and fiber bars has been on the rise lately, but there are still healthy options on shelves. Levels vary from bar to bar, so checking individual labels is key. In the meantime, we’ll be making plans for the next Taco Tuesday. 

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