If your lunchtime routine involves eating a burrito at Chipotle, you may be adding more saturated fat and calories to your meal than you realize. Learn which Chipotle burrito ingredients are healthy choices for a low-calorie lunch, and which contain empty calories and saturated fat. By making nutritious choices, you can incorporate Chipotle meals into your healthy eating plan if your doctor approves.
History
Steve Ells opened the first Chipotle restaurant in Denver, Colorado, in 1993, according to the official Chipotle website. In 2000, Chipotle began using pork that was naturally raised. As of 2010, all of the pork used in Chipotle restaurants are fed a vegetarian diet and are not given antibiotics. In addition, 100 percent of chicken in Chipotle restaurants was raised without antibiotics or growth hormones.
Tortillas
A large flour tortilla, which is included in the burrito, contains 290 calories, 80 calories from fat, 9.0 g total fat, 3 g saturated fat, 670 mg sodium and 44 g of carbohydrates, according to the Chipotle official website. The flour tortilla is high in calcium and iron, with 20 percent of the calcium and 15 percent of the iron you need in a 2,000-calorie diet. A crispy taco shell, included in Chipotle tacos, contains 60 calories, 20 calories from fat, 2 g total fat, .5 g saturated fat, 10 mg sodium and 9 g carbohydrates. Opting for a crispy taco shell or a salad or burrito bowl, which is served with no tortilla or shell at all, is your healthiest option.
Rice And Beans
A 4-oz. serving of black beans contains 120 calories, 10 calories from fat, 1 g total fat, no saturated fat, 250 mg sodium and 23 g carbohydrates. Black beans are a good vegetarian source of protein, with 7 g of protein per serving. Black beans contain 2 percent of the vitamin A, 2 percent vitamin D, 4 percent iron and 10 percent calcium you need for the day, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. According to MayoClinic.com in the article "High-Fiber Foods," black beans are also high in fiber, with approximately 15 g of fiber per 1-cup serving. A 3-oz. serving of cilantro-lime rice contains 130 calories, 30 calories from fat, 3 g total fat, .5 g saturated fat, 150 mg sodium and 23 g carbohydrates. To cut back on fat and calories, eliminate the rice from your burrito or burrito bowl.
Meat
If you're opting for meat on your burrito, you'll add additional saturated fat and calories to your meal no matter which protein your choose. The beef, or barbacoa, has the lowest calorie count of all the meat options with 170 calories, 60 calories from fat, 7 g total fat and 2.5 g saturated fat per 4-oz. serving. The chicken and carnitas, or pork, contain comparable calorie counts. A 4-oz. serving of chicken contains 190 calories, 60 calories from fat, 6.5 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 150 mg cholesterol, 370 mg sodium and 1 g carbohydrates. A 4-oz. serving of carnitas, or pork, contains 190 calories, 60 calories from fat, 8 g total fat, 2.5 g saturated fat, 60 mg cholesterol, 540 mg sodium and 1 g carbohydrates. Skip the meat all together for a meal that is lower in fat and calories.
Other Toppings
A 2-oz. serving of tomato salsa contains 20 calories, no calories from fat, no total fat, 470 mg sodium and, 4 g carbohydrates and is your healthiest option to add flavor to the burrito without lots of added fat and calories. Even a small amount of cheese or sour cream, on the other hand, can transform your burrito into a high-fat, high-calorie meal. A 1-oz. serving of cheese contains 100 calories, 80 calories from fat, 8.5 g total fat, 5 g saturated fat and 30 mg cholesterol. A 2-ounce serving of sour cream contains 120 calories, 90 calories from fat, 10 g total fat, 7 g saturated fat and 40 mg cholesterol. A serving of cheese, however, provides 8 percent of the vitamin A and 20 percent of the calcium recommended daily in a 2,000-calorie diet, notes the Chipotle website. Eliminate cheese and sour cream from your burrito or burrito bowl to significantly cut back on saturated fat and calories.
Expert Insight
Ordering a vegetarian burrito, tacos or salad may help cut back on saturated fat and calories, according to holistic health counselor Maya W. Paul in the HelpGuide.org article "Healthy Fast Food: Tips for Making Healthier Fast Food Choices." Ask for no cheese or sour cream on your burrito to eliminate cholesterol, calories and saturated fat.
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