Doritos Flamas are a less-known Dorito flavor that can be harder to find that the classics, like Nacho Cheese or Cool Ranch. However, considering the growing popularity of spicy foods, it’s a good option for those that love spicy snacks.
In this review, we’ll look at both the regular Doritos Flamas and the reduced fat Doritos Flamas, describing what they are, where to find them, and how healthy they are.
What is the Doritos Flamas Flavor?
Doritos Flamas are Frito Lay’s take on the Taki, just in triangle form instead of rolled up.
“Flamas” flavor is a chili and lime combo. Similar to Doritos Flamin’ Hot Limon, Doritos Flamas are less limey and have a better balance of chili to lime flavor. (Yes, “limon” in many Spanish-speaking countries means lime, not lemon.)
How spicy are Doritos Flamas?
Doritos Flamas are spicier than Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos and similar to the Flamin Hot Doritos. They may be too much for some people, but those that love spicy foods will tell you that Doritos Flamas are not that spicy.
Spicy foods are more popular among younger adults and teens, as a recent Harris Poll found that spicy snacks are purchased by 69% of Millenials and 73% of Gen Z, compared to just 52% of the general population. This is why Doritos Flamas are commonly marketed to younger people, including school-aged students.
Comparing Regular to Reduced Fat
As far as I can tell, both the regular and reduced fat version of Doritos Flamas have the same bright red, powdery coating, making the flavor profile identical.
The main difference between the two versions seems to be the chip itself. The reduced fat version seems to be cooked differently to reduce the amount of fat. Additionally, the reduced fat version contains whole grains, and the regular version does not.
A typical Dorito contains a lot of small air bubbles that gives it a light texture. The reduced fat version misses some of this, making them flatter and denser. You also notice when you eat the reduced fat version that it tastes less rich than a regular Dorito.
The added whole grains in the reduced fat version causes it to contain more hard bits than the regular version as well.
Doritos Flamas Ingredients
The main difference in ingredients between the two versions is the addition of whole grain corn and corn bran to the reduced fat version. This makes it a whole grain so that schools can sell it.
Both contain ingredients that some people avoid: artificial colors and MSG.
Artificial Color (Red 40 and Yellow 6)
Some researchers are concerned that artificial colors, such as Red 40 and Yellow 60 are a contributing factor to cancer. Additionally, there’s a growing body of evidence that they contribute to hyperactivity in certain children.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Doritos Flamas contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is a flavor enhancer.
This is a chemical that the Center for Science in the Public Interestrecommends companies reduce or eliminatedue to the negative reaction that some people get when consuming it.
Doritos Flamas Nutrition Facts
There are a few nutritional differences between the regular and reduced fat versions of Doritos Flamas.
Total Fat
Obviously, the reduced fat version has less fat per ounce:
Regular Doritos: 8g fat
Reduced Fat Doritos: 5g fat
Carbohydrates
However, the reduced fat version has more carbs:
Regular Doritos: 16g carb
Reduced Fat Doritos: 20g carb
Calories
The result is just a 10 calorie difference between the two products:
Regular Doritos: 140 calories
Reduced Fat Doritos: 130 calories
Fiber
Due to the whole corn and corn bran, the reduced fat version does contain an extra gram of fiber, which is always a good thing.
Regular Doritos: 1g fiber
Reduced Fat Doritos: 2g fiber
Nutrition Summary
However, the differences between the products are so small that it doesn’t make much sense to go out of your way to search for the reduced fat version, unless you are planning on selling them in a school and need to meet the federal Smart Snack standards.
Where to Buy Doritos Flamas
The regular Doritos Flamas are not as widespread as some of the standard flavors, but you can find which stores have them using Doritos’ store finder.
When clicking on each store, you can see which size bags they have. I found the Doritos Flamas big bags are harder to find in my area than smaller bags.
Reduced fat Doritos Flamas are a foodservice item, made specifically for schools. As such, you can only find them outside of schools in cases of 72 – 1 oz bags. You may be able to find it at a cash & carry, but your best bet is probably ordering online via Amazon.
School Uses
Doritos Flamas is a popular flavor profile for school-aged students.
Since the item is made from corn, schools can count this item as a grain. More specifically, one bag of Reduced Fat Doritos credits as 1.5oz of grain in the meal program.
The reduced fat version also meets the USDA’s Smart Snack requirements, so the product can be sold a la carte to students. This one can also commonly be found in vending machines in schools.
Spicy foods are safe for children in moderation. There have been issues at schools where students consumed multiple packages of spicy foods in one sitting, and they experienced gastrointestinal issues.
For that reason, schools may want to consider putting limits on the number of packages of spicy snacks students can purchase.
Dietitian’s Recommendation
The reduced fat version of Doritos Flamas have such a minor difference in nutrition profile that it’s not worth seeking out unless you’re a school. For schools to remain compliant with federal regulations, they will need to purchase the reduced fat version.
Remember that at the end of the day, even Reduced Fat Doritos Flamas are still a snack food that should be consumed in moderation.
Procurement Tips for Schools
Suggested Specifications
For school nutrition programs looking to procure this item, here is a suggested specification:
Chips, corn tortilla, whole grain, reduced fat, must meet Smart Snack Guidelines, chili and lime flavor
Comparable Products for “or Equal” Consideration
I have never seen another company make a product similar to the Reduced Fat Doritos Flamas. If you know of one, tell me in the comments below!
Summary
Reduced Fat Doritos Flamas are a school-approved item with minor differences from the regular Dorito version.
For more information on writing product specs, refer to my article Writing Product Specifications.
