Whether they’re made of corn or flour, tortillas are an indispensable part of Mexican culture and a symbol of Mexican cuisine. But are tortillas good for you from a nutritional standpoint?
Are Tortillas Good For You?
As other traditional foods, tortillas are far from a standardized product. No two tortillas are the same, so the answer to the question in the title of this blog is “It depends.”
It depends on the type of tortilla your choose and it depends on how you decide to consume your tortillas.
Furthermore, things get trickier when you consider that flour tortillas and corn tortillas differ not only in its main ingredient, but also in their size. In fact, corn tortillas tend to be smaller than flour tortillas although, again, no rule is set in stone.
This table makes it easy to compare the difference in nutritional values between corn and flour tortillas. As you can see, corn tortillas contain less carbs and fats that flour tortillas, although flour tortillas are a good source of iron. Visit this link for the full nutrient profile of corn tortillas or this page for the information on flour tortillas.
| Corn tortilla (28 g) | Flour tortilla (28 g) | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 61 | 87.4 |
| Carbs | 12.5 g | 14.4 g |
| Protein | 1.6 g | 2.3 g |
| Fat | 0.8 g | 2.2 g |
| Fiber | 1.8 g | 0.9 g |
| Calcium | 2% of the Daily Value (DV) | 4% of DV |
| Magnesium | 5% of DV | 2% of DV |
| Iron | 2% of DV | 5% of DV |
In short, tortillas are indeed good for you. They are a good source of nutrients and minerals and are more versatile than bread. However, you should keep in mind differences between corn tortillas and flour tortillas and also be mindful of the food you eat with them.
More Facts About Mexican Food
We love all the curious facts that surround chicken and authentic Mexican food. If you are hungry for more facts, these are some previous posts you can check out:
- What is a wet burrito?
- Chicken and Mexican food: 5 curious facts
- Mexican Carne Asada is a way of life
- The amazing stories behind the names of Mexican food
- Mesquite, a symbol of Mexican culture
- Why Are chili peppers so important in Mexican cuisine
Enjoy Authentic Mexican Food at El Pollo Norteño
If what you want is Authentic Mexican food in Anaheim, California, El Pollo Norteño is the place to go.
Visit today any of our four locations (Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Garden Grove), order online, get in touch through Facebook, or call 866-MI-POLLO to enjoy our authentic Mexican dishes: amazing chicken grilled to perfection over real Mesquite charcoal, caldo de pollo, flan, carnitas, carne asada, and more!