With all the rice, meat, cheese and toppings, a Chipotle burrito can contain as much as 1,200 calories and 19 g of saturated fat. Unlike some fast food restaurants, however, Chipotle Mexican Grill allows you to choose what you put in your burrito. Making wise ordering choices can help you put together a healthier, lower-calorie meal.
Cut Calories and Carbohydrates
To drastically reduce the calorie and carbohydrate content of your burrito, skip the 290-calorie tortilla and order the burrito bowl instead. The tortilla also contains 9 g of fat, including 3 g of saturated fat. Ask for a half portion of rice, to reduce the rice's calorie contribution from about 130 to 65.
Go Vegetarian
Skipping the high-fat meats will allow you to create a healthier burrito at Chipotle. Asking for a half-serving of meat can also help you reduce your burrito's calorie and fat content. Chipotle's barbacoa contains 170 calories and 7 g of fat, including 2.5 g of saturated fat. Chipotle's chicken contains 190 calories and 6.5 g of fat, including 2 g of saturated fat. Chipotle's carnitas contains 190 calories and 8 g of fat, including 2.5 g of saturated fat, and the steak contains 190 calories and 6.5 g of fat, including 2 g of saturated fat.
Skip the Toppings
Adding high-fat toppings to your burrito can boost its calorie and fat content significantly. Sour cream adds 120 calories and 10 g of fat, including 7 g of saturated fat, and guacamole adds 150 calories and 13 g of fat, including 2 g of saturated fat. Cheese adds 100 calories and 8.5 g of fat, including 5 g of saturated fat.
Add Vegetables
You might think that skipping the meat, cheese, guacamole and sour cream leaves you with an empty burrito. Skipping these high-fat items leaves you more room for nutrient-rich, low-fat vegetables. The tomato and tomatillo salsas contain only 15 to 40 calories and no more than 1 g of fat, and the roasted chili corn salsa contains 80 calories and only 1.5 g of fat. The fajita vegetables contain 20 calories and only 0.5 g of fat. Black beans and pinto beans each contain 120 calories and 1 g of fat, including 0.5 g of saturated fat. Beans are an excellent source of protein and dietary fiber. A ½-cup serving of cooked black beans contains 8 g of protein and 7 g of dietary fiber, and the same size serving of pinto beans contains 8 g of protein and 8 g of dietary fiber.
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