Ahhhhh the infamous 50 calorie tortilla. Tried them yet? Chances are if you’re an Enara patient you have, and maybe you already formed an opinion about them. As providers, we’ve heard it all, the good and the bad, about these. Today, we’re going to break down the why behind these high-fiber tortillas, and how they stack up against other common brands.
First thing’s first, why do we recommend this specific tortilla? We’re glad you asked! They are fairly low calorie (50 calories), as compared to other commercial tortillas available. For example, the tortilla at Chipotle is 320 calories and the Trader Joe’s Flour Tortilla is 140 calories. When you’re on a VLCD and keeping your intake at 800 calories/day, this makes the world of a difference.
Secondly, they are SUPER high in fiber. Now, let’s look at those tortillas we already mentioned. The flour tortilla from Chipotle contains 320 calories, 50 grams of carbohydrates, and 3 grams of fiber. The Trader Joe’s variety provides 140 calories, 22 grams of carbohydrate, and 0.25 grams of fiber. To compare, the low carb tortilla is 50 calories, 11 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fiber. For reference, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends women should aim for at least 25 grams of fiber per day and men 38 grams per day. Obtaining adequate daily fiber helps us feel full after meals, prevents constipation, and can help lower cholesterol.
Now, finding these tortillas can be challenging, as they’re not available at our trusty Trader Joe’s. However, we’ve found them at various stores throughout the Bay Area. Safeway is a safe bet, as well as Target. You may also find them at Rainbow Grocery, your local bodega, or order them online here.
One of the common complaints we hear about these tortillas is they rip when folded, or they “taste like cardboard.” Now, we’ll leave it up to you to decide what you do and do not like. However, we have some tricks to make these more wrap-able and tasty. Place a moist paper towel over the tortilla and microwave for ~20 seconds to make it more pliable. Or, gently char the tortilla over an open flame (safely). Happy wrapping!
