There are many fabulous Mexican restaurants around Phoenix that make some awesome home cooked tasting nosh but sometimes when you need fast and convenient that has healthier options then Taco Bell, Chipotle hits the spot.
And when I say healthier, I mean that the food is fresher, less processed, and you're going to get more real cheese versus some orange cheese-like goo. Chipotle is still a chain and will have it's processed issues too, but for the sake of conversation, let's say it's the lesser of the two evils.
I love this Chipotle food calculator because like when ordering your food in the restaurant, you just check your selections, and the calculator will tell you exactly all the nutrition facts like calories, fat, carbs and protein. In fact, because of this calculator, I stopped getting a burrito because the chicken burrito I was ordering even minus cheese and sour cream was still 1,000 calories for the whole thing. Yikes! I know.
Two things I typically get at Chipotle include:
- {as seen in picture above} Chicken tacos with corn tortilla, black beans, tomatoes, corn salsa, and medium heat tomato salsa. Sometimes I'll get guacamole like I did the other day.
- Vegetarian bowl with black beans, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, corn salsa, and medium heat tomato salsa. Ditto on the guacamole.
Here's 5 ways to cut some significant calories from your Chipotle experience so you can enjoy the food without busting your caloric intake for the day:
- Get a burrito bowl versus a regular burrito. The 13" tortilla alone is 290 calories. That's almost a half hour on the treadmill to burn off.
- 3 of the hard tacos are 180 calories versus 3 of the 6" tortillas which come in at 270 total. You save 90 calories.
- Adding cheese is 100 calories, and adding sour cream is 120 calories. Get one or the other or nix both.
- Instead of adding rice which is 130 calories, or beans; pinto or black as they have the same 120 calories, get the fajita vegetables which only adds 20 calories.
- Guacamole is 150 calories. If you want the guac, order it on the side versus having it put in your taco, burrito, or bowl so that you can better control how much is added in. A little guacamole is better than having a gob.
There you go with some helpful tips. What are some ways you help make your Chipotle experience less caloric?
" which he co-wrote with Dr. Michael Roizen was a Diet & Fitness book I actually found impressive because for doctors they made their book fun and practical. Doctors who show their humor are good peeps in my book.
