Good News For Health-Conscious Qdoba Fans

The new year is a time when many people revamp old habits and start trying to live a healthier lifestyle, and Qdoba Mexican Grill is here to help with that in 2021. Qdoba has just announced the launch of its new Vegetarian, Keto & More Menu. These health-conscious menu items are designed to adhere to multiple different diet and lifestyle needs, including vegetarian, low-carb, keto, paleo, and gluten-free diets. "Our culinary team developed these bowls to adhere to dietary guidelines, while still delivering a memorable flavor experience. The new creations make it easy for Qdoba guests that are keto, vegan, or just looking to eat more protein to come in and order a tasty meal that still fits in their lifestyle," Jill Adams, vice president of marketing at Qdoba, told Restaurant Business.

According to Chew Boom, some of their new low-carb and keto options include the Cauli-Mash Low-Carb Chicken Bowl, which substitutes Cauliflower Mash for rice and comes in at around 22 grams of carbs, and the Smoked Brisket Keto Bowl, which is both keto and gluten-free.

For vegetarians, items like the Impossible Taco Salad – which is made with plant-based Impossible taco meat and topped with pinto beans, pico de gallo, and roasted tomato salsa – are joining their already substantial vegetarian offerings. According to VegNews, back in May of 2019, the brand already pledged to add plant-based Impossible Meat to the menu at all 730 of their locations nationwide.

The decision to go plant-based came after successful test runs in multiple Michigan locations. "During our test, we quickly learned that consumers loved our unique take on Impossible, making it an easy decision to launch nationally. Our Impossible offering appeals to both meat lovers and vegans," Adams explained to VegNews.

There are also low-calorie options on their new menu, which is good news for customers who are hoping to shed a few pounds this year. The Low-Cal Chicken Grain Bowl and the Paleo Chicken Salad both offer healthy grilled chicken, veggies, and guacamole, for under 500 calories. The Street Style Pulled Pork Tacos, which are made with slow-braised pulled pork and topped with pico de gallo and cotija cheese, come in at only 370 calories.

And for a limited time, the new menu items won't just be good for you, they'll be good for your wallet, too. From now through January 17th, Qdoba is running a special "Try One, Get One" promotion, so all customers who order an entree from the new menu will receive an additional entree for free on their next visit.