Are Mission Carb Balance Tortillas Keto? The Low Carb Tortilla Myth

Are mission carb balance tortillas keto?¹⁰

The answer is whether or not mission’s carb balance tortillas are keto approved is yes, but the low carb tortilla myth is that most Mission keto tortillas still have a fair amount of carbs despite being labeled low carb and you have to really inspect the label to find the options that actually have 0 net carbs.

In addition, Mission isn’t the only brand making keto tortillas and some others options may taste better or have a thicker texture depending on your preferences. 

Are Mission Carb Balance Tortillas Keto Friendly? Can You Eat Carb Balance Tortillas on Keto?

Mission carb balance tortillas are relatively low in carbs and are therefore keto friendly. This means that in essence, they may well fall within the threshold of a daily keto diet requirement. A ketogenic diet (keto) is a diet that is low in carbohydrates, moderate in protein, and high in fat.¹ It should be noted that for someone to remain in ketosis, they will need to consume 20-50 grams of carbs daily based on a 2000 kcal diet.²

Ketosis is a condition in which fat is burned for energy due to a deficiency in carbohydrates consumed by those on a keto diet resulting in a goal of weight loss. A keto diet can be an intuitive eating weight loss strategy and is oftentimes supplemented with fat burning detox juices.

Can you eat carb-balance tortillas on keto? Sure, however, extra caution should be taken to not chomp the tortillas all at once as consuming them in this way can throw off the daily allotment of carbs, which may risk being kicked out of ketosis. 

Mission foods carb balance tortillas are marketed as keto-friendly and have been manufacturing tortilla products since 1977.³ Their products are manufactured from flour and traditional corn and are considered kosher and halal, ensuring a wide range of demographics consume them—they are also widely available. However, there are other lower-carb options that will be highlighted below.

How Many Carbs Are in Mission Carb Balance Tortillas (Mission Carb Balance Tortillas Keto Full List)

Mission carb balance tortillas keto comes in several variants, along with the carb count for each option. They are ranked from least carbs to most carbs.

• Zero net carbs of keto balance tortillas original have a net 0 grams of carbs (this is a new addition to the line-up)
• Zero net sun-dried tomato basil of keto balance tortillas has a net 0 grams of carbs (this is a new addition to the line-up)
• Fajita whole wheat of keto balance tortillas has a net 2 grams of carbs 
• Street tacos whole wheat of keto balance tortillas have a net 3 grams of carbs
• Soft taco whole wheat of keto balance tortillas has a net 3 grams of carbs 
• Spinach wraps have a net 3 grams of carbs
• Fajita flour of keto balance tortillas has a net 3 grams of carbs
• Protein garlic herb of keto balance tortillas has a net 3 grams of carbs (this is a new addition to the line-up)
• Soft taco restaurant-style flour of keto balance tortillas has a net 4 grams of carbs
• Soft taco flour of keto balance tortillas has a net 4 grams of carbs 
• Burrito whole wheat of keto balance tortillas has a net 5 grams of carbs
• Sun-dried tomato basil of keto balance tortillas has a net 5 grams of carbs

Mission Carb Balance Tortillas Keto Nutrition Explained

Mission carb balance tortillas keto nutrition information shows them to be relatively low in carbs due to changes in their ingredients. For one, they have a high content of fiber which makes them have a low net carb (net carbs = total carbs – fiber) count.

Source: pixelshot via Canva.com⁷

The substituting of these ingredients causes an increase in calories consumed and the other macronutrients—fat and protein. Other ingredients such as sucralose, which is an artificial sweetener, are used as substitutes since they’re low in carbs.

Ingredients

The higher fiber content makes the tortilla have an almost similar taste to regular tortillas but passes down the digestive tract without being digested. For example, the soft taco whole wheat tortillas have 18 grams of total carbs and 15 grams of dietary fiber. This gives them a net of 3 grams of carbs. 

A mission carb balance tortilla keto has the ingredients below:

• Baking soda
• Sorbic acid 
• Fumaric acid
• Cellulose gum
• Vital wheat gluten
• Water
• Modified wheat starch
• Enriched bleached flour 
• Wheat gluten 
• Vegetable shortening (hydrogenated soybean oils)
• Salt 
• Calcium propionate 
• Distilled monoglycerides
• Sodium acid pyrophosphate
• Sucralose

One potential downside with mission carb balance tortillas is that they are made with vegetable oils (hydrogenated) to boost shelf life and lower costs as they are cheaper. These oils, which have trans fatty acids, potentially decrease good cholesterol (HDL) and increase bad cholesterol (LDL), which is detrimental to heart health.⁴

Source: Studio Mexico via Canva.com⁸

A fact that keto-conscious individuals are more mindful of as well as those who are tired of being fat.

Macronutrients

The macronutrients on the mission carb balance tortillas keto fluctuate with the different variations, as does the calorie count. The list highlights the macros ranked from least carbs to the most carbs.

Zero net carb Tortilla

• Calories (kcal) = 25
• Net Carbs (grams) = 0
• Protein (grams) = 2
• Fat (grams) = 1.5

Zero Net Sun-dried Tomato Basil

• Calories (kcal) = 25
• Net Carbs (grams) = 0
• Protein (grams) = 2
• Fat (grams) = 1.5

Fajita Whole Wheat

• Calories (kcal) = 45
• Net Carbs (grams) = 2
• Protein (grams) = 4
• Fat (grams) = 2

Street Tacos Whole Wheat

• Calories (kcal) = 70
• Net Carbs (grams) = 3
• Protein (grams) = 6
• Fat (grams) = 3.5

Spinach Wraps

• Calories (kcal) = 60
• Net Carbs (grams) = 3
• Protein (grams) = 6
• Fat (grams) = 3.5

Fajita Flour

• Calories (kcal) = 45
• Net Carbs (grams) = 3
• Protein (grams) = 4
• Fat (grams) = 2

Soft Taco Restaurant-style Flour

• Calories (kcal) = 70
• Net Carbs (grams) = 3
• Protein (grams) = 5
• Fat (grams) = 3

Protein Garlic Herb

• Calories (kcal) = 70
• Net Carbs (grams) = 3
• Protein (grams) = 7
• Fat (grams) = 3

Soft Taco Flour

• Calories (kcal) = 70
• Net Carbs (grams) = 4
• Protein (grams) = 5
• Fat (grams) = 3

Burrito Whole Wheat

• Calories (kcal) = 110
• Net Carbs (grams) = 4
• Protein (grams) = 9
• Fat (grams) = 6

Sun-dried Tomato Basil Zero

• Calories (kcal) = 80
• Net Carbs (grams) = 5
• Protein (grams) = 5
• Fat (grams) = 3.6

Does Mission Make 1 Carb Tortillas or 3 Net Carb Tortillas?

Mission does make make 0 or 3 net carb tortillas. Mission carb balance tortillas designated as keto-friendly by the company often have total carbohydrate ratings of 20-30 grams which are close to the daily cap of a keto diet. However, as mentioned before, most of these carbs come as a dietary fiber, placing their net carbs below 5 grams.

Source: Belyaevskiy via Canva.com⁹

Dietary fiber is not digested by the human body and is passed as waste. This implies that it is not absorbed into the bloodstream. Therefore, the net carb of its products is relatively low. The company has recently released 3 new products, with 2 of those being touted as having 0 net carbs:

• Zero net carb of keto balance tortillas original
• Zero net sun-dried tomato

These two tortillas have dietary fiber amounts that match the total carbohydrate amount, which effectively means they have 0 net carbs. Mission carb balance tortillas may be referred to as dirty keto by many since they are processed and thus, are not viewed as clean keto. At the end of the day, they help individuals curb their hunger for authentic (flour-based) food, such as regular tortillas or burritos, while maintaining relatively low-carb numbers.

How To Make Low Carb or Keto Friendly Tortillas at Home

To make home-made tortillas that are low carb, the following ingredients can be used:

• A cup (112 grams) of almond flour (this is the base)
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon of water
• Half a teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon of Xanthan gum or guar gum

All ingredients can be placed in a food processor and mixed until a ball of dough forms. It usually takes a few seconds for this to happen. The dough is then placed in plastic wrap, gently kneaded for about 2 minutes, and then allowed to rest for about 15 minutes. Unwrap the dough, and a food scale can be used to divide the dough into 4 smaller balls.

Place each ball onto some parchment paper and cover it with another piece of paper. Press the dough until it’s flat using the hands, then using a rolling pin, work the dough until it has the width of a coin and measures roughly 5 inches by 5 inches. Coat a bowl with baking spray, and with a knife, cut the flattened dough into a tortilla shell with the bowl as the guide. The excess dough can be used to make the 5th ball. Repeat the process until there are 5 tortilla shells.

Use a non-stick pan and pre-heat with a high flame. The tortilla will be yellow, but it will turn white as it cooks. Once this is done, flip the tortilla and leave for another 5 seconds, then remove it from the pan as the tortillas can easily overcook. The result is 5 low carb, soft, and pliable (soft) tortillas.

The macros for each of these tortillas would be 1.5 grams of net carbs, 6 grams of protein, and 13 grams of fat. (165 kcal)

Other Brands With Low Carb Tortillas

Several brands other than Mission offer far keto approved tortillas and some may taste better, have a thicker texture, or hold up better when wrapping up the toppings in them. And just with mission, the low carb tortilla myth stands true so always consider the net carbs above all else to remain in ketosis. 

Maria & Ricardo’s

These tortillas have a low-calorie count and are not made with unhealthy vegetable oil but avocado oil and wheat flour. Avocado oil promotes heart and brain health and is an excellent substitute for vegetable oil.⁵ They maintain their integrity and don’t get soggy when they have toppings, as is common with many tortillas. These tortillas don’t have dairy, eggs, preservatives, or artificial flavors. They contain 4 grams of net carbs, 1.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of protein, and only 45 kcal.

Mr. Tortilla’s

These tasty and healthy tortillas are made with avocado oil and come in 4 flavors: Pico de Gallo, savory spinach, multigrain and spicy 3 chiles. They have the lowest calorie and carb count—making 1 carb tortillas, one of the lowest of all the brands available, and are pliable and foldable. These tortillas are vegan and kosher as well. The Pico de Gallo is very delicious, and these tortillas are affordable at $4.99 for a 24-pack. They are only available online from their website and not in stores yet. They contain 1 gram of net carbs, 0.5 grams of fat, and 1 gram of protein and are only 15 kcal.

Mama Lupe’s

Mama Lupe’s tortillas are quite a tasty option better when compared to other commercially produced brands. It is best to have them in bulk numbers and freeze them—defrosting them for a few hours before using them to ensure they don’t stick together. They are soft and quite pliable and have a low carb count. Their macros include 3 grams of net carbs, 2 grams of fat, 5 grams of protein, and 70 kcal.

La Tortilla’s Factory

La tortilla’s factory tortillas come in a 7” size and are low in calories making them perfect for those on strict diets. They are sold in resealable bags, which help maintain freshness and have quite a long shelf life. These tortillas maintain their flexibility even after lengthy refrigeration. They contain 3 grams of net carbs, 3 grams of proteins, and 3.5 grams of fat and are 50 kcal.

La Banderita

These tortillas are made with healthy ingredients using unbleached flour and the non-use of hydrogenated oils. Unbleached flour is a more natural variant of flour and has antioxidants, vitamin E, and higher fiber content, and contains minerals such as manganese and copper. These tortillas are soft, flexible, and quite tasty—what’s more, they are made from whole wheat and are low in calories. They contain 5 grams of net carbs, 4 grams of proteins, and 1.5 grams of fat and are 50 kcal.

1 Carb Tortilla Recipe: Wrapped With 0 Carb Tortillas From Mission

To entice keto enthusiasts, here is a 1 carb tortilla recipe that is sure to tingle those taste buds whilst ensuring that someone stays within the confines of their daily carb intake.

Ingredients

• 4 Mission Zero Net Carbs Sun Dried Tomato Basil Tortillas
• 8 ounces of smoked salmon (these should be thinly sliced)
• 1 cucumber (these should be thinly sliced)
• ½ cup of cream or goat cheese
• 1 handful of radish sprouts
• 2 red and gold cherry tomatoes
• ½ a red onion (these should be thinly sliced)
• 2 tablespoons of capers
• Juice of a small lemon

Preparation

Each tortilla should be spread with cheese as the base for the other ingredients. The slices of cucumber can then be placed slightly overlapping each other in one row but ensure that there is 1-inch space from the border uncovered. Place slices of tomatoes and onions in the same manner and place the salmon slices on them. Sprinkle lemon juice over the salmon and top up with the sprouts and capers.

Repeat the process for all 3 tortillas and tightly roll the tortillas and seal by pressing against both sides of the cheese. They may be served immediately as a whole tortilla or spit down the middle. The tortillas can also be refrigerated in plastic wrap for a later meal. This recipe is delicious, healthy, and, most importantly, keto-friendly!

The salmon and cream cheese provide sufficient protein and make up for the low fat that these tortillas contain. Cream cheese is very keto-friendly, and 1 oz. contains 1 gram of carbs as per the USDA.⁶ Can you be in ketosis and still not lose weight? Yes, and therefore care should be taken not to munch down all tortillas at once but spread over several carb balance tortillas keto meals.

In conclusion, the answer to are mission carb balance tortillas keto is yes, but the net carbs should hold priority and there’s other options to explore too. 

FAQs About Mission Carb Balance Tortilla Keto

Are Carb Balance Tortillas Good for Non-Keto Dieters?

Carb-balance tortillas are good for non-keto dieters as well since they’re low in calories and most of the ingredients are somewhat healthy. They can provide a good entry point for those looking to enter a stricter keto diet as they transition away from regular tortillas due to their lower carb count.

Are Carb Balance Ingredients Healthy?

Not all carb balance ingredients are healthy but they’re not the worst and don’t contain much of the less than healthy ingredients.

As mentioned, the tortillas are made from hydrogenated vegetable oils that are not good for heart health and cause inflammation. In addition, they contain sucralose, which is a carb-free artificial sweetener that can cause gut problems.