I seem to remember a study that says that high sodium makes your body think it is hungrier–I assume in that same hungry feeling you get when you are actually thirsty.
I also find that fast food inevitably has more calories than you would think. It seems that it’s easier to make high calorie food more quickly and more consistently. (You don’t want the microwaved hamburger tasting different from the fresh one, for example.) It’s the same thing you notice in already prepared foods. The mass quantities necessary for fast food production seems to always involve not only high sodium, buy high calorie foods.
Finally, I’ve found that so-called mexican fast food is one type that always seems to leave me hungry. It takes maybe five soft tacos at Taco Bell to fill me up (which is why I don’t try to fill up on them anymore.) I have the same problem with pizza, so I suspect it is the spices.
Because despite the hate in this thread, their food is GOOD. Everything in moderation, folks! The Bugerjoints have to do mental gymnastics to get their menus aligned to have anything healthy on them, most EVERYTHING on Chipotle’s menu is fairly healthy, and fairly un-processed.
Is it salty? Hell yeah. You’ll find most things that taste good, do so for a REASON. That reason is usually that it provides something a hunter-gatherer needs: Fat is dense, high energy. Salt is a vital component in staying healthy. It kinda hamstrings a person in a modern society where food is cheap, fast, and plentiful.
But of the restaurants out there (The Italian carbo-loading, the Deepfried contingent, the Burger-with-egg on it contingent, the feeds-a-family-of-four for $8 contingent) Chipotle is FAR from the worst offender.
Looks some some of them have licenses and some don’t. The one I would occasionally go to in downtown Chicago had Negro Modelo in bottles. Chipotle is not offensive: I just find it pretty bland.
All you have to do is say “no rice.” Its not complicated or some big super secret. If you don’t like rice - tell them not to put any rice in when they ask. Chipotle burritos are made to order.
I get a bowl with lettuce, fajita vegetables, black beans, meat, mild salsa, and I ask 'em for limes which they actually hide behind the counter so I can squeeze lime juice over everything. Pretty good that way.
We get the Nutrition Action health newsletter, and they often do exposes of how bad some innocuous -looking meal is. THey were shocked by how caloriffic a Chipotle tortilla was, and discovered that they use butter in/on almost everything.
Rice and beans - complete protein, cheap, filling, low fat, and (IMO) tasty. What’s not to love? If you don’t like rice in your burrito, that’s OK (De Gustibus …), and it means more rice for me!
Take the burrito out of the wrapper and divide it into two or three pieces. Put one or two pieces into Tupperware and put in fridge. Put one on a plate and eat it. If you always clean your plate, make sure what you put on your plate is the smallest satisfactory amount.
Yes, I am aware I can get it without rice. but my peeve is that they will not make up the missing bulk with more meat, or say, guacamole- the expensive ingredients that cost extra. They are not truly made to order.
But they will make up the bulk with INEXPENSIVE alternate ingredients - lots of the chopped salsa, extra fajita veggies (peppers and onions), lettuce, or beans. Those items are equivalent in cost to rice and are freely substituted. Those items which are not equivalent in cost to rice, are not freely substituted. I think that’s only fair.
Sure they are. OK, I don’t like rice in my burritos, either (actually, I don’t much like burritos at all), but, really, do you expect more meat in your burrito if you ask to hold the rice? Have you ever been anywhere where you can ask to hold a starch/filler and they give you more meat in its place? I haven’t.
Sure have, I can go to a real taco stand and get a real overstuffed burrito, without rice in the first place, for less than or a comparable price to chipotle.
i confuse chinese places, when i order something like general tso, i ask for less meat and more broccoli… or go nuts and order general tso tofu and confuse my friends =)
“But I didnt know you were a vegetarian…” “Im not” “??!”
If it didn’t have rice in the first place, then no you haven’t. If I go to the local mariscos place and ask for the shrimp & rice plate without the rice, I’m telling you they’re not going to make up for the lack of rice by giving me more shrimp. You are essentially asking Chipotle to do the same. Their standard burrito is rice & meat. If you don’t want rice, don’t expect more meat unless you pay for it. It only makes sense.
That doesn’t change the whole “subway of mexican food” business plan they are built around. It doesn’t change the fact that their base fillings are chincy and they rely on cheap filler for bulk and they rape you with a smile everytime you eat there… They are way overpriced for the quarters worth of rice, beans, and veg they overfill your burrito with. Doesn’t change any of that.
Well, their tortillas have to be in the ballpark of 24 inches. Do the math. They cost like $8 with no sides or drink.
In Chicago you can’t go 2 feet without hitting a burrito joint owned and operated by real Mexicans serving burritos that are as big or bigger and filled with all meat and fresh veggies without a whiff of rice or whole beans (excepting the rice and bean burrito or vegetarian burritos, natch) in the vicinity for half the price.
And their burritos actually stay together when you eat them! I’m ok with Chipotle, but their burritos suck. The Bols and Salads are overpriced but are pretty decent, calories be damned.
All you have to do is say “no rice.” Its not complicated or some big super secret. If you don’t like rice - tell them not to put any rice in when they ask. Chipotle burritos are made to order.