How to Eat Healthy at Chipotle
As far as fast-casual restaurants go, Chipotle is actually one of the healthiest — if you know what to order. Luckily, Chipotle is all about customization, so that you can create a nutritious and delicious meal with these tips.
Go For Bowls and Salads
While burritos and quesadillas are undoubtedly delicious, these high-calorie offerings can set you back over 1,200 calories. Instead, try ordering either a bowl (all the goods without the not-so-healthy flour tortilla) or a salad, which dumps all of the tasty toppings onto a bed of greens. Some cities also offer “Lifestyle Bowls,” which cater to low-carbohydrate diets like Whole30, keto, and paleo. Or, simply build your own — a good option is a bowl or salad with chicken, fajita veggies, beans, fresh salsa, and guacamole.
Choose One High-Calorie Add-On
From guacamole to cheese to sour cream, Chipotle offers plenty of delicious toppings — but they are notoriously high in calories and fat. Instead of getting all three, choose just one of these high-calorie toppings, and douse the rest in salsa or hot sauce.
Up the Fiber Content
Beans and brown rice are a great way to increase both the fiber content and the satiety you get from eating a meal. Plus, fajita veggies also contain beneficial fiber, vitamins, and minerals to make your meal healthier. Another option is choosing a plant-based protein instead of meat — in addition to the black or pinto beans, you could try the sofritas, made from crumbled, seasoned soy. (However, keep in mind that sofritas are high in sodium, so planning for the rest of your day to be lower in sodium is advised.)
Skip the Chips
One single bag of Chipotle chips can add over 800 calories to your meal! If you absolutely need some chips with your meal, try splitting the bag with a few friends to cut the calorie count and make your Chipotle meal a bit healthier.
Go For Bowls and Salads
While burritos and quesadillas are undoubtedly delicious, these high-calorie offerings can set you back over 1,200 calories. Instead, try ordering either a bowl (all the goods without the not-so-healthy flour tortilla) or a salad, which dumps all of the tasty toppings onto a bed of greens. Some cities also offer “Lifestyle Bowls,” which cater to low-carbohydrate diets like Whole30, keto, and paleo. Or, simply build your own — a good option is a bowl or salad with chicken, fajita veggies, beans, fresh salsa, and guacamole.
Choose One High-Calorie Add-On
From guacamole to cheese to sour cream, Chipotle offers plenty of delicious toppings — but they are notoriously high in calories and fat. Instead of getting all three, choose just one of these high-calorie toppings, and douse the rest in salsa or hot sauce.
Up the Fiber Content
Beans and brown rice are a great way to increase both the fiber content and the satiety you get from eating a meal. Plus, fajita veggies also contain beneficial fiber, vitamins, and minerals to make your meal healthier. Another option is choosing a plant-based protein instead of meat — in addition to the black or pinto beans, you could try the sofritas, made from crumbled, seasoned soy. (However, keep in mind that sofritas are high in sodium, so planning for the rest of your day to be lower in sodium is advised.)
Skip the Chips
One single bag of Chipotle chips can add over 800 calories to your meal! If you absolutely need some chips with your meal, try splitting the bag with a few friends to cut the calorie count and make your Chipotle meal a bit healthier.
