Is Organic Fast Food a Total Whopper?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't know if you can really call Chipotle healthy when one burrito has all your fat and calories for the day... It's yummy, but I'm never filing that in the healthy category, no matter how "organic" the ingredients.

It's still going to be overprocessed, over-salted, and too fatty. Better than McDonald's, but I'm not exactly impressed by the 20% organic beans claim.

As long as the consumer demands less processed fast food, these chains will catch on. In California, we have a chain called, Baja Fresh (Mexican). In bold print repeated on the walls it says, "No microwaves, no can-openers, no msg...etc. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic but fast food doesn't necessarily have to be highly processed.

Yum Baja Fresh. It's national, I believe.

Ah, ok. They too were bought out by a major fast food chain, Wendy's (I believe). But so far, they seem to have kept their philosophy.

[Nizzy 1]

We've got baja fresh here too! I remember going there once...now I can't think of why I never went back because I enjoyed what I had. Do they still have the fish tacos?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

We've got baja fresh here too! I remember going there once...now I can't think of why I never went back because I enjoyed what I had. Do they still have the fish tacos?

I think so. We also have Rubio's and Wahoo's - both known for their fish tacos.

[sarah and hicham 3]

Everytime I go to San Diego Wahoo's is a must have. It's so good!

[Married_my_love 0]

God I miss my Chipotle chicken & black bean burrito, extra mild salsa, a drizzle of the Hot

it was when I used the chipotle calculator, that I knew I was eating it a bit too frequently!!

http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

when I calc'd the one I loved to eat, it was scary

Calories 1202

Calories from Fat 427

Total Fat 48g

Saturated Fat 18g

Cholesterol 166mg

Sodium 3482mg

Total Carbohydrate 129g

Dietary Fiber 10.5g

Sugars 6g

Protein 62g

Wowzers, 3482 in sodium is scary but almost fitty in fat? ouch

[mawilson 2,133]

Is organic fast food a whopper? No.

Is a whopper organic fast food? No.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I guess ALL fast-food could easily be called organic (meaning only "the vast majority of its constituents are carbon-based and are therefore classified chemically as organic") in one sense.

[garya505 2]

I guess ALL fast-food could easily be called organic (meaning only "the vast majority of its constituents are carbon-based and are therefore classified chemically as organic") in one sense.

In the generic meaning of the word yes, but using the word "Organic" in labelling has a FDA definition and related requirements, and I believe there are some state certifications for Organic food.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

God I miss my Chipotle chicken & black bean burrito, extra mild salsa, a drizzle of the Hot

it was when I used the chipotle calculator, that I knew I was eating it a bit too frequently!!

http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

when I calc'd the one I loved to eat, it was scary

Calories 1202

Calories from Fat 427

Total Fat 48g

Saturated Fat 18g

Cholesterol 166mg

Sodium 3482mg

Total Carbohydrate 129g

Dietary Fiber 10.5g

Sugars 6g

Protein 62g

Wowzers, 3482 in sodium is scary but almost fitty in fat? ouch

Holy Cow! Caladan was right! OMG! That's it. I'm back to my can of tuna in a bowl with mayo for lunch. That's a lot of friggin sodium, not to mention the fat!

[Alex+R 0]

God I miss my Chipotle chicken & black bean burrito, extra mild salsa, a drizzle of the Hot

it was when I used the chipotle calculator, that I knew I was eating it a bit too frequently!!

http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

when I calc'd the one I loved to eat, it was scary

Calories 1202

Calories from Fat 427

Total Fat 48g

Saturated Fat 18g

Cholesterol 166mg

Sodium 3482mg

Total Carbohydrate 129g

Dietary Fiber 10.5g

Sugars 6g

Protein 62g

Wowzers, 3482 in sodium is scary but almost fitty in fat? ouch

Holy Cow! Caladan was right! OMG! That's it. I'm back to my can of tuna in a bowl with mayo for lunch. That's a lot of friggin sodium, not to mention the fat!

Hehehe yeah that's what I was talking about... we used that website a lot when I was in college because there was a Chipotle very near our favorite drinking spots. We started to all experience Chipotle-related weight gain immediately after it opened...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't know if you can really call Chipotle healthy when one burrito has all your fat and calories for the day... It's yummy, but I'm never filing that in the healthy category, no matter how "organic" the ingredients.

It's still going to be overprocessed, over-salted, and too fatty. Better than McDonald's, but I'm not exactly impressed by the 20% organic beans claim.

As long as the consumer demands less processed fast food, these chains will catch on. In California, we have a chain called, Baja Fresh (Mexican). In bold print repeated on the walls it says, "No microwaves, no can-openers, no msg...etc. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic but fast food doesn't necessarily have to be highly processed.

Yum Baja Fresh. It's national, I believe.

Ah, ok. They too were bought out by a major fast food chain, Wendy's (I believe). But so far, they seem to have kept their philosophy.

Baja Fresh and Chipotle are great. Shame that the parent company can't follow suit.

We have White Castle out east which has something of a cult following in California. It was ok, the only thing that really put me off is that they don't have any soft drink that doesn't contain extreme amount of sugar or HFCS. Even the iced tea is diabetes inducing..

[Jenn! 918]

If I want to eat healthy, I cook at home. I've given up on trying to eat healthy at any type of restaurant.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If I want to eat healthy, I cook at home. I've given up on trying to eat healthy at any type of restaurant.

But that's disheartening because it's nice to get out, sit down in a nice setting and not have to fuss about the kitchen.

There is this Japanese restaurant that I frequent for lunch, called Fukata's. The chef makes the noodles fresh everyday (Soba - Buckwheat...mmmmm) and the offers organic brown rice. The iced green tea is thick and cloudy but tasty. It is hard to find healthy places to eat, but there are some...I'd go insane if I couldn't get out of the office or my apartment and enjoy a meal every now and then.

Edited October 29, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[Jenn! 918]

If I want to eat healthy, I cook at home. I've given up on trying to eat healthy at any type of restaurant.

But that's disheartening because it's nice to get out, sit down in a nice setting and not have to fuss about the kitchen.

Oh, don't misunderstand me, I eat out. I just don't worry about whether what I'm eating is healthy. Eating out for me is the time to splurge!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If I want to eat healthy, I cook at home. I've given up on trying to eat healthy at any type of restaurant.

But that's disheartening because it's nice to get out, sit down in a nice setting and not have to fuss about the kitchen.

Oh, don't misunderstand me, I eat out. I just don't worry about whether what I'm eating is healthy. Eating out for me is the time to splurge!

Here's my motivation to eat tuna for the next week...