Chipotle is Giving Us Too Much Food

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  • Miss_1999
    Miss_1999 Posts: 747 Member
    I feel dumber after reading this thread

    I'm pretty certain my IQ has gone down a few points as well.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    They are giving you more than the nutrition facts say. That is the problem. You think your burrito bowl is 480 calories, but it ends up being over 70 calories most times.

    Well, I (for one!) Agree with you. It is a problem. When a restaurant claims a dish has a certain number of calories and it's in fact much higher...it leads the consumer to make assumptions about their diet.
    This is especially a problem for people like me, who only have say, 1300 calories per day allotted.

    It's a no win situation for restaurant chains since it comes down to the cooks. I used to work at a Taco Bell. Every item on their menu has a weight it is supposed to be. There is a digital food scale on the line at the end to check the items weight. If the employee makes the item at the correct weight, then the calorie count on the website should be fairly close to accurate. Now, where I worked the scale would only ever get used in 2 situations. One, when they were being evaluated. During evaluations employee's on the food line were expected to know the correct weight for every item on the menu and expected to be able to make it at the correct weight. Two, would be when they were learning to make new food items. Any other time you had 2 types of employees that would work on line. One would only give you about half of what you were supposed to get and the other would be overly "generous" with the portioning.

    And, as long as you hit 50% each way, everybody can be happy.
  • MJDiAmore
    MJDiAmore Posts: 5

    2) Let's not forget that if you're being health-conscious, you're probably not getting sour cream/excessive guac/etc on your burrito. So everything in the darn thing is actually quite healthy. Solid grains/lower GI carbs from brown rice, great fiber from your bean choice, an utterly STELLAR protein:fat ratio for any food, let alone fast food (roughly 5:2, which beats even an aggressive Macro balance of 50C:25F:25P), and a few USDA servings of veggies depending on your preferences.

    What is inherently unhealthy about "sour cream/excessive guac"?

    Also, what is inherently more healthy about "brown rice" compared to "white rice"?

    Sour Cream - 60% Saturated (unhealthy) Fat - In a Chipotle serving you're looking at least 30-33% of your DV for the heart-unhealthy type of fat... and if there's anything that I've noticed Chipotle tends to overdeliver on it's the sour cream. Note that a serving on Chipotle's site is 2 oz. (and we've been informed that the spoons are a 3.5).

    Guac - High Fat as well - often 1/3+ of your total DV (16g per serving, though as it is avocado based it is likely that a higher ratio of healthy fats is present)

    Brown Rice vs. White Rice - https://www.google.com/#q=brown+rice+vs+white+rice http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_rice Read the nutritional breakdowns for yourself. General talking points include less refinement = better whole grains. Significantly improved GI profile from the better ratio of total carbs:fiber carbs. White rice processing removes the bran oil which may help lower LDL cholesterol. The refinement process also strips several vitamins and minerals, most notably magnesium, manganese, and selenium. Another huge benefit of Chipotle brown rice vs white is that you reduce your sodium intake by 420 mg (~25% DV) when you make the switch!!

    Wait, what???

    :huh:

    So then, what is inherently unhealthy about saturated fat?



    As for the rice...sorry, but I don't find your evidence compelling. Here's some comparably-sourced information from the other side:

    http://www.details.com/blogs/daily-details/2013/06/health-is-brown-rice-really-better-than-white-rice-myth.html
    http://ancestral-nutrition.com/why-white-rice-is-healthier-than-brown-rice/
    http://butterbeliever.com/brown-rice-vs-white-rice-which-is-healthy/


    Clearly, certain myths (such as "saturated fat is bad" and "brown rice is healthy and white rice is unhealthy" are remarkably resilient.

    Your evidence is orders of magnitude even less compelling. The first of those 3 links provides no scientific argument or valid scientific methodology for its "myth-busting conclusions" whatsoever. A statement such as "Many nutrition experts demonize white rice, potatoes, pasta, white bread, etc. because it's an easy rule to remember and grasp, but these foods are really only a problem if you overeat them, which usually happens when you slather them in salty, fatty, sugary sauces—also making them a vehicle for salt, sugar, and fat." is completely disingenuous. Because some people add other foods/toppings that are bad for you isn't even a valid argument for a comparison of 2 separate classes of foods.

    "Usually the more unprocessed a food, the better, because it contains more nutrients, but in this case the unprocessed component of the brown-rice grain contains both nutrients (good things for us to consume) and some antinutrients (maybe not a good thing for us to consume), which are what the plant uses as a defense system against pests." might be even worse, because they give no supporting evidence to the supposed antinutrient contents of the brown rice. It is even specifically qualified as "maybe not a good thing" because they genuinely don't know, whereas we widely accept that processing is bad for our food.

    As for saturated fat, there has been precisely 1 study that I have found through extensive research (because you can't just take 1 site on the Internet's word, 98% of nutritional advice sites are quack) that touts butter (not all saturated fat mind you) as a benefit in your diet (in moderation of course). Yet one of your links is suddenly proclaiming it a superfood?!? Surely that draws some skepticism from you? There is also the known link between Saturated fat and Cholesterol, of which the LDL Pattern B variety has a basically unquestioned negative effect.

    I will say there is some interesting evidence I have found as to the links between Sat. Fat & Heart Disease in Europe, and going back to white rice sites love to tout the use of white rice in often 3rd world Asian nations as proof that it's not bad for you. Problem is the USA isn't a 3rd world country and we're not engaging in the same lifestyle as the people of the Asia-Pacific, who may often be toiling in fields or doing other various strenuous labor activities compared to our vastly higher ratio of desk job. There is still something to be said for environment and activity rates in our metabolisms.

    For me personally, I have had my cardiologist specifically recommend I stay away from Sat. Fat due to its increase in heart disease risk. Again, I'm going to trust a licensed medical doctor over a website publishing early studies and making loud generalizations meant to influence. My doctor giving me advice isn't propaganda. Might that advice eventually become outdated? Perhaps, but surely one should trust the professional with the actual scientific background, who pieces together multiple sources of evidence. You can see the dissent even within the AHA here: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20140320/dietary-fats-q-a?page=2
  • pinkshiningstar
    pinkshiningstar Posts: 141 Member
    I'm not going to read through this whole thread. While looks entertaining, I'll just skip here to the end (as of now) and say my small piece.

    Chipotle can put as much food into that little bowl/burrito/salad as they want. Hey, the more the merrier. However, I'm the one CHOOSING how much to put in my mouth. At the end of the day no matter how much they load that little tray up with, it's up to me what I do with it. Chipotle can't be gained for my weight gain or anyone else's.

    Carry on, everyone! :smile:
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Maybe you should read the thread or at least a page or the first post because the issue is not personal responsibility over how much you eat.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    read the thread before posting a comment? Crazy talk.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    read the thread before posting a comment? Crazy talk.

    Not me. I just assume that when I jump into a thread on page 15 without reading, that whatever insight I have to share has not already been offered...and discussed...and debated...and that the conversation has not evolved any at all in those previous 15 pages.
  • pinkshiningstar
    pinkshiningstar Posts: 141 Member
    Maybe you should read the thread or at least a page or the first post because the issue is not personal responsibility over how much you eat.

    Well, the OP started out by saying Chipotle is serving more than the portions outlined on their websites, and people in turn, are eating a higher amount of calories than they intend.

    However, when you go on Chipotle.com and say, build your burrito bowl, it outlines the quantity of the meat, cheese, etc that the "serving" is for. Example, chicken should be 4oz per their website. If you have a heavy-handed bowl-builder at your local Chipotle, that could easily throw anyone off and it would be unrealistic for someone to weigh out the contents of said bowl. But the difference between 4oz of chicken and 8oz of chicken is great, and should be noticeable to a person who even cares how much is going into their bowl and they are consuming.

    So, yes, I did read this as a topic that comes down to personal responsibility (from where the OP started the topic). It would be unreasonable to expect every Chipotle restaurant to serve the exact, spot-on quantity of food it outlines in it's nutritional facts. They're not weighing food. They're simply scooping it into your bowl, etc.

    I went through 5 pages of this thread and saw the rabbit hole it started going down (like many threads do, understandably). I simply put in my two cents on the topic, that is all.
  • kmsnyg
    kmsnyg Posts: 100 Member
    Just ate some Chipotle goodness, and it was still relatively low cal (albeit high in sodium).

    I just get a salad without dressing, with chicken, extra fajita vegs, tomato salsa and half the cheese. Even if they over do my chicken, it's not going to increase it by that much.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Maybe you should read the thread or at least a page or the first post because the issue is not personal responsibility over how much you eat.

    Well, the OP started out by saying Chipotle is serving more than the portions outlined on their websites, and people in turn, are eating a higher amount of calories than they intend.

    However, when you go on Chipotle.com and say, build your burrito bowl, it outlines the quantity of the meat, cheese, etc that the "serving" is for. Example, chicken should be 4oz per their website. If you have a heavy-handed bowl-builder at your local Chipotle, that could easily throw anyone off and it would be unrealistic for someone to weigh out the contents of said bowl. But the difference between 4oz of chicken and 8oz of chicken is great, and should be noticeable to a person who even cares how much is going into their bowl and they are consuming.

    So, yes, I did read this as a topic that comes down to personal responsibility (from where the OP started the topic). It would be unreasonable to expect every Chipotle restaurant to serve the exact, spot-on quantity of food it outlines in it's nutritional facts. They're not weighing food. They're simply scooping it into your bowl, etc.

    I went through 5 pages of this thread and saw the rabbit hole it started going down (like many threads do, understandably). I simply put in my two cents on the topic, that is all.

    Take personal responsibility for what goes in one's mouth? More crazy talk
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    It would be unreasonable to expect every Chipotle restaurant to serve the exact, spot-on quantity of food it outlines in it's nutritional facts. They're not weighing food. They're simply scooping it into your bowl, etc.
    Oh I agree with that. But what they're doing is claiming their burritos and bowls have 4 oz. of rice for calorie count purposes but training employees to use 7 oz. of rice (almost 2 scoops). It's not that huge a difference but people here seem to adore the place and also love accurate logging so if your 600 calorie bowl is actually 750 calories when made exactly how they train them to, it's useful info.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    It would be unreasonable to expect every Chipotle restaurant to serve the exact, spot-on quantity of food it outlines in it's nutritional facts. They're not weighing food. They're simply scooping it into your bowl, etc.
    Oh I agree with that. But what they're doing is claiming their burritos and bowls have 4 oz. of rice for calorie count purposes but training employees to use 7 oz. of rice (almost 2 scoops). It's not that huge a difference but people here seem to adore the place and also love accurate logging so if your 600 calorie bowl is actually 750 calories when made exactly how they train them to, it's useful info.

    The employees could also just not give a rat's *kitten* if weirdos like us are logging food or not. There's the detached corporate way of doing stuff, then the way it really goes. When you have a line snaking around the dining room at lunchtime, your job is to get people in and out, so being niggardly with the scooping kinda flies out the door.
  • jessieleah
    jessieleah Posts: 204 Member
    Just ate some Chipotle goodness, and it was still relatively low cal (albeit high in sodium).

    I just get a salad without dressing, with chicken, extra fajita vegs, tomato salsa and half the cheese. Even if they over do my chicken, it's not going to increase it by that much.

    Jumping in to say that it really amuses me when people order salads and make some comment about being healthy/good/weight watchers, then they ask for 2+ salad dressings on the side. Those things have nearly 300 calories each!


    It would be unreasonable to expect every Chipotle restaurant to serve the exact, spot-on quantity of food it outlines in it's nutritional facts. They're not weighing food. They're simply scooping it into your bowl, etc.
    Oh I agree with that. But what they're doing is claiming their burritos and bowls have 4 oz. of rice for calorie count purposes but training employees to use 7 oz. of rice (almost 2 scoops). It's not that huge a difference but people here seem to adore the place and also love accurate logging so if your 600 calorie bowl is actually 750 calories when made exactly how they train them to, it's useful info.

    I guarantee the employees aren't being taught to scoop in 7 oz. Portion control is generally on point during training, but after you've worked the line long enough, you start to notice that at least 80% of the time, 4 oz of rice inside a bowl looks tiny and people will ask for more. So you just start adding more to begin with and it spirals out of control.

    Anyway, I agree that it can seriously screw with people who are counting calories. But working on the line for 8 hours a day and dealing with hundreds of customers, that's basically the last thing on your mind.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    The one Chipotle employee in the thread said they are trained to give 7oz. of rice. As in almost 2 scoops. Sure, you might give 6oz. of rice or 9 oz. but if the spec was 4oz. that'd be one scoop. So giving extra would take them longer. They don't care about your diet but they care about remaining employed and it's pretty obvious if you're giving everyone an extra scoop of something, to the people supervising.

    When I go they give one scoop and a second one almost full, I think. But I don't go that much. Someone go and report back, would ya? :bigsmile:
  • imaginaryplant
    imaginaryplant Posts: 93 Member
    Not my Chipotle, they just like to give us less Chipotle, but I clearly need and want more Chipotle.
  • marceldu
    marceldu Posts: 1
    I opt for a salad bowl vs. a burrito bowl -- it is a lot lighter and has far fewer calories!
  • carrie_lou
    carrie_lou Posts: 44
    Well I finally went to this place Sunday.... I walked in, looked at the menu, looked down at the food, then walked back out. Don't understand what the big hoopla was about:yawn:
  • BoatsnHose
    BoatsnHose Posts: 120 Member
    Then don't eat there OP, but certainly don't complain about portion portion sizes because you can't control yourself.

    A restaurant might give us more food than listed, shocker!
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    I don't understand why anyone is surprised by this. OMG restaurants don't measure our food to match the nutritional guidelines????

    My first job was at a dairy queen. When they train you to make the ice cream cones, they bring out a scale and you have to weigh them after you put the ice cream on it. The sizes were supposed to be a certain number of ounces. After you get a feel for it, the scale goes away. However, after a while, your sizing will become off. The owners freaked out on us one day and said we were all making the cones too big. They broke out the scales and made everyone weigh their cones that day. We were all giving at least 50% more than what we should have. Its because eyeballing is inaccurate. It was completely unintentional and it was across the board.

    So, yes, if they are training their employees to give more food than listed, that's one problem. But even if they weren't, you would probably still be getting more food than you should because eyeballing is bad. That's why everyone should weigh their food, no matter how long they've been measuring. It's the rare person that can eyeball things accurately forever.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Well I finally went to this place Sunday.... I walked in, looked at the menu, looked down at the food, then walked back out. Don't understand what the big hoopla was about:yawn:

    That's probably because the rest of us actually eat our food instead of, you know, just looking at it.

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