Is Chipotle healthy? This is probably a question you’ve asked yourself after realizing you forgot to plan for dinner. You weigh the quick and easy dining options, deciding to forgo the greasier chains, but have you really chosen the healthier option?
Chipotle is an American fast-casual restaurant chain that serves a customizable menu of Mexican-inspired meals. Given the customizable aspect and variety of “real” ingredients, Chipotle is often considered to be a healthy option for casual dining. So what do dietitians think?
“Chipotle is a comparatively healthier fast-food option due to the fresh ingredients they offer,” says Valerie Agyeman, R.D., a Washington-based dietitian and founder of Flourish Heights. “Their menu is filled with a variety of meats, veggies, and greens, which is something you usually don’t find at other fast-food chains. So you can order a well-rounded meal packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats.”
So yes, Chipotle is healthy—but only as healthy as you make it. The health factor comes down to the ingredients you choose. To learn how to make your order a more nutritious (but still delicious) one, read on for advice from registered dietitians.
Ingredients to avoid
Calculating the nutritional content of Chipotle’s meals is fairly straightforward: The chain’s Nutrition Calculator allows you to build a meal and see the calories, fat, protein, carbohydrate, and sodium so you can differentiate between a high-calorie meal and a more nutritious one.
One of the most popular Chipotle meals is the burrito, and we can see why. These delights are portable, fully contained meals that hit all five major food groups. However, one of the joys—and pitfalls—of a burrito is that its contents are tucked inside a tortilla, so it can be difficult to take stock of the less nutritious elements, like a dollop of queso blanco or mound of Monterey Jack.
One way to still enjoy these indulgences is through portion control. “If you love the burritos or tacos and can’t go without, split the portion or ask for the tortilla on the side so you can control the amounts and ingredients to make it work within your goals,” says registered dietitian May Zhu, R.D., LDN.
Here’s an example: a carnitas burrito with all the trimmings (white rice, pinto beans, fajita vegetables, fresh tomato salsa, guacamole, cheese, sour cream, and roasted salsa) clocks in at 1,275 calories, while three vegetarian tacos (black beans, guacamole, fresh tomato salsa, fajita vegetables, chili-corn salsa, romaine lettuce, and roasted tomato salsa) comes to 525 calories.
If counting calories isn’t your game and you want more flexibility, simply skip the less nutritious ingredients. Here are some ingredients dietitians recommend you avoid at Chipotle.
Chipotle offers healthy carbohydrates such as black and pinto beans, but there are less nutritious options we tend to default to. “I would avoid the refined carbohydrates, the white rice, tortillas, and tortilla chips,” says Tamar Samuels, M.S., R.D., cofounder of Culina Health. “Refined carbohydrates are stripped of fiber and most of their nutrients through processing; plus, they contribute to empty calories.”
Refined carbohydrates, which have been linked to weight gain, can make you feel bloated and drowsy rather than energized. So consider ditching the 320-calorie flour tortillas and build a burrito bowl or salad instead.
If you’re tempted to fill the tortilla’s absence by adding rice, swap it for Chipotle’s new cauliflower rice (40 calories) or go without. “The cauliflower rice is a great option for people who want additional vegetables and/or are looking to decrease their carbohydrate intake,” says Samuels.
If you’re still counting on traditional rice to fill you up, opt for a half serve of brown rice. It has the same calories as white rice, but it contains 1.8 grams of fiber, compared with the 0.4 grams of fiber in white rice.
If you’re craving richness and creaminess, choose guacamole. The green goodness will help satisfy cravings for less nutritious additions. “Be mindful of adding too many high-calorie toppings, or choose one high-calorie topping and make the rest mostly vegetable-based,” says Samuels. “Instead of adding cheese, sour cream, and guacamole, choose just guacamole, salsa, and beans, which have fewer calories and more fiber.”
How to make a Chipotle meal healthier
There’s nothing like standing before Chipotle’s array of colorful toppings to test your iron will. Particularly if you’ve grown used to a certain order over the years, like adding every creamy condiment or bulking up with double rice. But if you want to make your favorite orders healthier, here’s where to start.
Know anyone who groans about paying extra for avocado because they think it’s their God-given right? When it comes to health, the extra $2.70 might be worth it. Chipotle uses Hass avocados, which are high in monounsaturated fat (6.7 grams per half avocado). This has been linked to preventing heart disease and lowering blood pressure. Due to the fat content, avocados are calorie-rich, so if you’re monitoring your weight, consider a half serving.
Avocado carbohydrates are composed of about 80% dietary fiber, meaning a 100-gram serving of avocado provides 6.7 grams of fiber. This meets 24% of your daily requirement. Consuming fiber-rich foods can help regulate the immune system, maintain a healthy digestive system, and prevent constipation.
A study that analyzed the diets of 17,567 U.S. adults found that those who ate avocado had better-quality diets and consumed more nutrients than non-avocado consumers, as well as had lower body weights and a lower risk of metabolic syndrome.
Rather than pack your burrito with carbohydrates you don’t need, ask for more vegetables. “It’s smart to start with a dense vegetable base, then think about what else you’re craving and add it in smaller portions,” says Zhu. “You can build a healthy bowl or salad loaded with vegetables and protein but still have a few chips on the side if that’s what you’re craving.”
This will provide more fiber and vitamins to keep you feeling full for longer. It’s a more nutritious option than adding rice; plus, it will offer more interesting flavors and textures. “I find that many people skip over the peppers and onions but it's one of my favorite add-ons,” says Atlanta-based registered dietitian Marisa Moore, RDN, L.D. “So add the peppers and onions, cauliflower rice, and any of the salsas to boost your vegetable intake. Or try one of the salads on offer.”
Instead of filling up on rice or tortilla, Moore recommends beans. “Keep hunger at bay with the black or pinto beans, which deliver filling fiber and plant-based protein,” she says. Studies have found that bean-rich diets are linked to lower rates of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes.
Black and pinto beans are also high in folate, manganese, and vitamin B1. By adding beans, you’re also adding 8 grams of protein, which is useful if you’re vegetarian or vegan and require a plant-based source of protein.
How to make Chipotle work if you’re vegan, keto, or paleo
Thanks to Chipotle’s customizable menu, the chain is good for those with dietary requirements. Plus the launch of Chipotle’s lifestyle bowls in 2019 means there are now dedicated meals for vegan, vegetarian, keto, paleo, high-protein, and whole food diets.
The vegan lifestyle bowl contains cauliflower rice, salsas, black beans, lettuce, and sofritas (a soybean-based protein). “These ingredients come together for a balanced meal with protein, healthy fats, and fiber, which will keep us full and satisfied,” says Zhu. The bowl contains 18 grams of dietary fiber and 22 grams of protein.
For those following the keto diet, Samuels recommends this simple order: “Choose the keto bowl, which is made with cauliflower rice, or you can do a salad bowl. Skip the rice and beans, but add fat from sour cream, cheese, and guacamole. Get your protein from animal proteins: chicken, pork, or beef.”
When it comes to paleo options, you can customize your meal. Samuels suggests starting with a salad or cauliflower-rice bowl, then adding animal protein, skipping dairy add-ons (cheese and sour cream) and grains (rice and tortillas), and finishing with the honey vinaigrette. “Keep in mind that while you have options that are gluten-free, grain-free, and legume-free,” says Samuels, “most of the proteins and vegetables are cooked in industrial seed oils, which are recommended in small amounts only on Whole 30/Paleo.”
