The Average Chipotle Customer Consumes 1,070 Calories Per Visit (New York Times)

chitchatcatt

http://www.eater.com/2015/2/17/8052045/the-average-chipotle-customer-consumes-1070-calories-per-visit

Alatariel75

Challenge accepted!

rosebette

Not a surprise. If I go to lunch there, it's with several women, and we always split a burrito between two people because it is so huge. Of course, guess who owns Chipotle's == McDonald's.

ndj1979

this is relevant/surprising…why?

AJ_G

I consume 1200 calories almost every time I go to Chipotle, except for the two times I went and got double wrapped, triple meat burritos with extra rice and extra cheese, those were 2000 calorie burritos. As long as you know what you're consuming, why does it matter what that caloric value is?

obscuremusicreference

Interesting. But while the article is right that these app orders don't include fountain drinks, I can honestly say that if I order food in versus going out, I get more, because I can put my leftovers in the fridge right away. I don't know if the fountain drink thing does cancel it out, because a lot of people get diet or unsweetened tea.

foursirius

It easily fits within my macros when I go there so I don't see this as a big deal.

Jolinia

rosebette wrote: »

Not a surprise. If I go to lunch there, it's with several women, and we always split a burrito between two people because it is so huge. Of course, guess who owns Chipotle's == McDonald's.

Not anymore I don't think. I think there was investment from McDonalds at one point, but not now. Could be wrong.

Either way, my son always makes two meals of it. I would of course eat the entire burrito and wash it down with soda in my old life.

williams969

Quote from the first paragraph of the article: But here's the thing, Chipotle fans: You're not eating healthy when you're there. Says who? 1,070 is very well in the realm of a"healthy" and appropriate meal for many. And who says you can't split a meal, or save the rest for dinner, if it's a larger portion than one needs? I do that often, or if I want the whole thing (not just Chipotle, in general), I make room for it in my day.

970Mikaela1

Any place I eat out at is 9 times out of 10 over 1000 calories. Usually more.

Alluminati

Alert the presses. Oh wait.

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

Oh it's been awhile since a Chipotle thread bounced around the forums. Yawn

arditarose

Wow. Big surprise.

txrn123

I know!! I went to their website where they let you custom design what you get to help you add up the calories and mine was over 700!!! Best way around it would be to eat half and safe half for another meal maybe the next day.

txrn123

rosebette wrote: »

Not a surprise. If I go to lunch there, it's with several women, and we always split a burrito between two people because it is so huge. Of course, guess who owns Chipotle's == McDonald's.

Actually, they split from McDs years ago.

cityruss

williams969 wrote: »

Quote from the first paragraph of the article: But here's the thing, Chipotle fans: You're not eating healthy when you're there. Says who? 1,070 is very well in the realm of a"healthy" and appropriate meal for many. And who says you can't split a meal, or save the rest for dinner, if it's a larger portion than one needs? I do that often, or if I want the whole thing (not just Chipotle, in general), I make room for it in my day.

Yup.

My evening meal is rarely sub 1000cal.

I've never eaten a burrito, I shall endeavor to seek one out.

angiepangie43

I love Chipotle! I think it id healthy. I mostly eat low carb. Generally I get thr bowl eith no rice.

lemurcat12

I don't go to Chipotle much, but my 2 preferred Chipotle orders are 370 and 405 calories--I just checked. Eh, that's not even as large as the lunch I normally bring from home. If I add guac it's a lot more, but same if I add an avocado to any lunch.

peter56765

AJ_G wrote: »

I consume 1200 calories almost every time I go to Chipotle, except for the two times I went and got double wrapped, triple meat burritos with extra rice and extra cheese, those were 2000 calorie burritos. As long as you know what you're consuming, why does it matter what that caloric value is?

I think that's the key point of the article. While MFP'ers tend to be calorie savvy (that's why we're here!), the general public is probably unaware that the average meal ordered at Chipotle far exceeds the average meal from McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, etc. Just because it's old news to us doesn't mean it's common knowledge. One of the jobs of media is to inform and I think that's the main intent here.

For me personally, I tend to avoid lunch at places like Chipotle because the calories add up too quickly and it's a real nuisance to have to deal with leftovers in the middle of my work day or even on weekends when I want to be out and about for a couple more hours after lunch. The whole point of fast food is convenience and cutting the portions in half for later is a real bother.

Naley2322

I only have chipotle on splurge days because who knows how they cook and prepare ingredients at each location.

I always get the Vegan bowl..probably shouldnt be too bad for me

neanderthin

Say it isn't so, who would have thunk it

Francl27

I can fit 1000 calories for lunch without too many problems if I plan ahead, to be honest... as long as it's filling!

EvgeniZyntx

actually the numbers mean nothing....


... using data culled from online delivery service GrubHub. But that data set, using only online orders, might be skewing the calorie content of the "average" order ...

Unknown

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neanderthin

EvgeniZyntx wrote: »

actually the numbers mean nothing....


... using data culled from online delivery service GrubHub. But that data set, using only online orders, might be skewing the calorie content of the "average" order ...

Seriously, that's how they came to this conclusion, typical.

martyqueen52

Tastes like *kitten* to me. You can tell the salsa is canned from the metallic taste, and no, it's definitely not cilantro flavoring.

I would rather blow 1000 calories in a real authentic Mexican / Spanish restaurant.

Francl27

martyqueen52 wrote: »

Tastes like *kitten* to me. You can tell the salsa is canned from the metallic taste, and no, it's definitely not cilantro flavoring.

I would rather blow 1000 calories in a real authentic Mexican / Spanish restaurant.

Yeah honestly I had a bowl there and it tasted just like what I make at home, except for more calories... haven't been back since. Don't see the point.

lemurcat12

EvgeniZyntx wrote: »

actually the numbers mean nothing....


... using data culled from online delivery service GrubHub. But that data set, using only online orders, might be skewing the calorie content of the "average" order ...

Good point. That's a ridiculous basis for the conclusion.

HeySwoleSister

How does GrubHub discern how much people eat in one sitting? How do they know a fully loaded burrito isn't being shared?

And, seriously, rice, beans, meat, veg....all good for you. Just eat as much of the burrito as fits in your caloric goals. Big guy? Eat a big burrito. If you're a middle aged lady with bones like a bird? (I resemble that remark) Eat half of the big burrito.


Even when I wasn't limiting calories, I couldn't eat a whole one, anyways. Two meals from one burrito is a pretty good deal. Plus, last time I was there, I got my water in that cool Neil Gaiman cup.

Lofteren

Surprise!!! Food has calories.

dragthewaters

There's nothing necessarily wrong with eating a 1070 calorie meal. It all depends on the context in which it is eaten. For example when I go to Chipotle it's usually on the weekend after either waking up late and not having breakfast, or having a very light breakfast (like a smoothie). And this is not taking into account that some people might only eat half their meal and then save the rest as leftovers.

Even taking the number of calories into account, Chipotle still has way healthier ingredients than most other fast food places.