Chipotle

[Dela]

Just wanted to give a quick nod to Chipotle's. I finally ate at the one near my house a few months ago, and go in now at least once a week for lunch. I at first thought it was just another Baja Fresh, but it's really not. The menu is very simple, but the food is incredibly fresh and good. Food with integrity is their byline, and they try to use organic and local meat and produce when possible, not saying they are angels, but their philosophy is certainly pointing in the right direction.

I always get the same thing, salad, chicken, pico, and guac, love it. Going to try the pork eventually, but usually for salads chicken for me is the best fit.

www.chipotle.com

 

[MadnNatsmom]

I stayed away for the same reason - thought it was the same as Baja Fresh - but, it definitely is not!

I LOVE the shredded beef, and I rarely eat red meat.

 

[mj476]

May taste great but isn't so great for you (from Eat This Not That):

Worst Steak Salad

Chipotle Steak Salad (with pinto beans, cheese, corn salsa, and Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette)
760 calories
42 g fat (11 g saturated)
1,945 mg sodium
Salsa is arguably the world's leanest and healthiest condiment, and thanks to the deliciously complex union of onions, peppers, and tomatoes, it's more than equipped to double as dressing. Nix the honey vinaigrette and your salad will instantly shed 260 calories.

Eat This Instead!
Fajita Chicken Salad (with fajita vegetables, black beans, cheese, and medium salsa)

450 calories
17 g fat (7 g saturated)
1,200 mg sodium

Marcy

 

[Dela]

I still don't think it's bad for you, you can choose to add cheese and sourcream and heavier more caloric items, but all items there are built to your specs, so it's only the worst if you make it that way.

I also find this a little unfair of them to make this comparison since the steak salad has the salad dressing and the chicken salad does not. so these 2 things are not comparing apples to apples, and the notation does say if you lose the dressing from the steak salad you drop almost 300 calories, making these 2 salads about the same calories. The dressing is always served on the side.

Also, I really think my salad of lettuce, chicken, guac and pico de gallo (they call it mild tomato salsa) is pretty healthy. It might be a bit caloric with the guac, but those are good calories

I was meaning to look up the calories in the dressing, I use about half of it, a little less. I think I'll cut that down even more, I ask for extra pico which has a ton of flavor, but maybe I'll add one of the thinner salsas too.

 

[mj476]

I agree with what you're saying. If I do eat Mexican, I leave off the sour cream and usually the cheese and get the green sauce (don't know what it's called). Your salad does sound healthy and the guac is good calories!

Marcy

 

[Dela]

Cause now that made me curious, the salad I order, using half the dressing (the site lists it at 260 not 280)

510 calories, 31 grams fat, 6 saturated.

Without dressing:
380 calories 19.5 grams fat, 4 saturated

I'm ok with both those numbers for a meal. I should mention, I don't really monitor my natural fat intake (oils, nuts, meats, avocados, etc), or equate high fat with being bad for you, and I'm sure many will disagree with me, but I side with the camp that has shown that saturated fats are not the evil devils they were made out to be by the supporters of low fat diets. Sodium intake has never affected me one way or another, so I can't comment if those numbers are bad or not.