Chipotle is arguably the most popular restaurant chain in the United States right now. It’s innovative, it’s making tons of money, millennials love it, and people can’t stop blabbering on social media about how they know that the guac is extra. Soon there will be thousands and thousands of take-out only Chiptole locations blanketing the country.
But the million dollar question remains: Is it really, uh, *good* for you? Even though they have sustainably-raised meat, there’s no way it’s actually healthy, right?
Right. Today the New York Times did the calorie math in a fantastic feature on what you’re actually consuming when you go for that carnitas burrito bowl. Unless you’re sticking to veggie burrito bowls, carnitas burritos, or crispy steak tacos, you’re consuming over 855 calories, well over 50% of your daily saturated fat, and A LOT of sodium during that Chipotle sesh. The average is at least 1,000 calories:
Today, we have a ballpark estimate. The typical order at Chipotle has about 1,070 calories. That’s more than half of the calories that most adults are supposed to eat in an entire day. The recommended range for most adults is between 1,600 and 2,400.
The histogram above shows the distribution of calories for all orders. The spike around 1,000 calories represents “standard” burrito orders – a meat burrito with typical additions: cheese, salsa, lettuce, sour cream, rice and beans. If you order a meat burrito at Chipotle with these toppings, it’s very likely to reach 1,000 calories.
But there’s so much more to this data than the averages. Chipotle customers can and do order meals with fewer than 650 calories, such as a cheese-free burrito bowl. On the other end of the spectrum, about one in 10 meals had more than 1,600 calories.
Chicken bowl, Veggie burrito, and Barbacoa soft tacos average around 855 calories per order. Steak burritos, Barbacoa burritos, and Chicken burritos average around 1070 calories and are about 85% of your daily suggested sodium intake. When you add chips and guac to that meal, you’re crushing over 1300 calories, easy.
Head over to the New York Times for a full-breakdown of how many calories you’re crushing with your go-to Chipotle lunches. Then maybe order a salad with nuts and lemon juice dressing for lunch.
Kinda makes you question this man’s life decisions, huh?