Chipotle

austindperry

Hey all!

I just wanted some feedback really quick. I am in love with Chipotle restaurant. This has happened recently but I always want to go there. I created a new go to meal for myself there that appears to be decent. I get a burrito bowl (no tortilla) with chicken, black beans, brown rice, lettuce, and hot sauce.

What are people's opinions of eating this? Am I harming myself if this is my dinner 2-3 times a week? It ends up being around 500 calories and very filling. Just didn't want to mislead myself and end up sabotaging my diet.

Thoughts?

Barneystinson

If it fits in your macros, hey why not?

Mindful_Trent

Not really sure exactly why you think it would be sabotaging your diet.... It's fairly healthy in terms of what you're eating (chicken, black beans, brown rice, lettuce, hot sauce... all pretty good!). it's probably higher in sodium than if it were home made, but as long as you're drinking enough water and watching sodium for your other meals, that's not a big deal. Calorie-wise, 500 calories for a meal is reasonable, and as long as you have the calories left to eat that - why not?

One thought, though - if you like it that much, it would be pretty simple (and much cheaper) to make at home - and then you could control things like sodium in the meal.

austindperry

The reason I suspect it would sabotage my diet is simply because it is "fast food". I'm also not very knowledgeable about nutrition and the balance of proteins, carbs, and fats. So basically I didn't know if anyone would point out that it is not balanced or is high in sodium (like you pointed out...thanks!)

I could make it at home, but the point of it is that I work full time while in school and some nights it is not very practical to make a homemade meal.

I didn't mean to ask a dumb question, I just didn't want to fool myself into thinking it was a decent option for me.

felice03

go to their website they have the breakdown of each ingredient. I had it yesterday and mine was about 700, but I didn't eat the entire thing.

TMLPatrick

Earlier this year, I lost 40 lbs eating chipotle's burrito bowls at least 1 time a week. As long as you come in under calories, its perfectly fine (and delicious)!

TinaDay1114

This tool is also really cool -- you can break down the ingredients you did / did not add to your meal there, and get calorie counts and breakdowns:

http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

Photoology

Chipotle isn't terrible and you are doing it right with asking for the brown rice and the bowl. If it fits within your calories and what not, go for it. If you are in need of less carbs, ask for less rice... I know that I can never finish the amount of rice they give me.

Now I am in the mood for some chipotle... lol

Mindful_Trent

The reason I suspect it would sabotage my diet is simply because it is "fast food". I'm also not very knowledgeable about nutrition and the balance of proteins, carbs, and fats. So basically I didn't know if anyone would point out that it is not balanced or is high in sodium (like you pointed out...thanks!)

I could make it at home, but the point of it is that I work full time while in school and some nights it is not very practical to make a homemade meal.

I didn't mean to ask a dumb question, I just didn't want to fool myself into thinking it was a decent option for me.

Sorry - it wasn't a dumb question, I just wasn't sure exactly what your concern was. Chipotle is definitely the healthier variety of fast food, especially your particular choice of meals. I wouldn't be too concerned - you can definitely work around the sodium.

I did the work full time / school full time at the same time thing, too - you might consider cooking up a big batch of chicken/beans/rice mixture one day a week - then pre-portion it into the containers. This would allow you to "grab and go" - just needing to add the lettuce and hot sauce - on days when you needed it (assuming you have a way to heat it up). Just an idea - I learned that cooking big batches like that is a great time saver and a way to eat home-made food even when you're really busy.

stephanie8625

I eat it at least 2X/week. I love Chipotle !!!
As long as it is under your calorie count you are fine !!

caveats

If it makes you feel any better, Chipotle is what the restaurant industry would call "fast casual", not fast food. :laugh: Totally hear ya on the working + school thing. I did it for a while, too, and yeah, I NEVER had much time to cook at all (which I missed since I love cooking).

But as far as fast casual or fast food goes, Chipotle is one of the best options out there, IMHO. Responsibly sourced ingredients and meat? Sign me up! I eat there often for lunch still if I need to grab something during my lunch hour because I'd much rather go there than other fast casual/food joints that are less healthy (fried, for example). So eat up and enjoy! And good luck with school.

OnWisconsin84

Hey all!

I just wanted some feedback really quick. I am in love with Chipotle restaurant. This has happened recently but I always want to go there. I created a new go to meal for myself there that appears to be decent. I get a burrito bowl (no tortilla) with chicken, black beans, brown rice, lettuce, and hot sauce.

What are people's opinions of eating this? Am I harming myself if this is my dinner 2-3 times a week? It ends up being around 500 calories and very filling. Just didn't want to mislead myself and end up sabotaging my diet.

Thoughts?

I lost 110 pounds & ate Chipotle 3-4x a week. I always got a burrito bowl, one small scoop of rice, one small scoop of steak, and had them put sour cream, cheese & fresh tomato salsa in side cups so I always knew how much I was getting. That way I could enjoy the deliciousness of Chipotle & not have any guilt I joked that I should create a Chipotle diet...which I'm still contemplating

Angierae81

I stick to all veggies and rice, no sour cream or qucamole (sp) and it ends up being around 237 calories. very filling... i think if its all with ur ranges for carbs, protein, and calories you should be good.

amycal

I agree with poster above me - Chipotle is one of best options for a relatively quick meal out of the house. My mom meets with a naturopath doctor for inflammation and weight issues and he even recommends Chipotle. Their food comes from much better sources than your average restaurant - mostly grass-fed beef, lots of organic ingredients and most are gluten free (gluten is a big cause of inflammation).

erxkeel

recommend Chipotlaway.

volrathdesign

There's nothing wrong with Chipotle as long as you're getting something healthy on their menu.

The sodium is the biggest factor in their meals that kills your weight loss, but if you're drinking 1-2 gallons per day anyways it doesn't really matter you will drain that over sodium use easily.

As for me, I learned how to make everything at home almost identical to Chipotle so I could eat the same meal with about 75% less sodium intake, but the same calories and protein.

lq022

I think your pretty good with it ... the brown rice is definately better than white rice ... and the fact that theres no tortilla is knocking, like 400 calories off right there . ... If your worried about eating too many carbs, (or say that day, you had a sandwich or something) then just switch out the rice for extra veggies .. it might cost you more, but it'll prob be just as filling for fewer calories.

I know alot of people have mixed emotions about eating at fast food places ... and while its not the best thing to do all the time, I think when you can find great substitutions to keep the calories in check, its just as good as homemade stuff. Oh! Theres an idea ... you could make a chipotle burrito bowl @ home ... that way the calories are REALLY in check (i love when I have ideas in the process of writing something haha)

Good luck!

amysj303

Ilike chipotle, I get the chicken tacos. I noticed the sodium is very high, but personally, I don't track sodium.
It's not fried, and it's whole, real foods.
500 cals and 42 grams of protein (http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator)
is really pretty awesome for eating out. As a guy I am sure you could get more calories with dinner.

inskydiamonds

I would just be aware of the sodium in Chipotle's food.

alfredapittman

http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

Great tool. Thanks for sharing.

austindperry

You guys are awesome!

Chipotle it is. I think I'll tell them to slow their role with the rice though, they always go overboard!

lq022

^^^ Definately didnt see the post above mine about doing it at home ... doh!

NurseBarb

I LOVE CHIPOTLE'S!! I went there about a year ago. (Out of town of course, sadly we don't have one here) I fell in love with a lime/cilantro rice dish with spicy chicken. Since I can't get to a Chipotle's except a couple of times a year I figured out how to make the dish at home! I cook some rice up in my little rice cooker and add some lime juice and fresh cilantro. And I cook some chicken breast with Cavendar's seasoning and olive oil (keep the lid on the pan to seal in juices) Then I chop up the chicken and toss it in Tabasco Smoked Chipotle. MMMmmmmmm MMMMMMMMMmmmm Good and good for you!

TMLPatrick

One of the best things you can get is crunch carnitas tacos w/ mild salsa and cheese... I think that was 420 calories and really delicious...

natalie7015

Chipotle can be a "healthy" resturaunt food. I know they use a lot of fresh and organic ingredients as well. It sounds as if you have managed to tweak your dinners healthy so I think it would be a good thing! Kinda like the Subway diet!

xHelloQuincyx

hurting your wallet... not hurting your diet. just make it at home so you know exactly whats going into it, it would save you so much money.

monicanicoletta

Just be careful because chipotle has a LOT, A LOT of sodium... which can make you retain water/gain weight. other than that, here and there its fine

krist3ng

http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

Wow, this is cool! My normal chipotle meal (if I forgo the tortilla wrap) is only like, 300-400 calories!

Only thing is I feel cheated spending $8 on the lettuce-black beans-cheese-sour cream combo. I should do Chipotle at home like people say.

AmyRhubarb

Wait - Chipotle has brown rice?? I did not know that! :happy:

And I agree with it hurting the wallet - I don't eat there often because of the cost!

caveats

As for me, I learned how to make everything at home almost identical to Chipotle so I could eat the same meal with about 75% less sodium intake, but the same calories and protein.

@volrathdesign -- would you happen to have a suggestion on how to duplicate the steak at home? I agree with another poster that this hurts my wallet WAY more than my diet, LOL.

xmalonex

I'm going to have to try the burrito bowl if its only 500 calories...I always thought of it as monster burritos that were billion calories.
There is one walking distance from work so I'll do that tomorrow.