How To Eat Out and Eat Healthy

Today I had lunch at Chipotle Mexican Grill. I like that place. I've read a bit about the guy who started it all, and about how he wanted to make fast food, healthy food. He buys good quality free range meats, quality ingredients, and everything in his restaurants is made fresh every day.

Maybe I'm gullible, but I believe him.

Anyway, in my quest to make healthy food choices, here is the play by play on what I did and did not order at CMG today...

#1. Start with the "Bowl," as opposed to the "Burrito." The flour tortilla shell is pretty worthless, nutritionally, and just adds about 290 unwanted calories. Yep, 290...right off of their web site.

#2. Skip the rice. Same comment as I made about the tortilla shell, applies to the rice.

#3. Skip the beans. Just a personal choice. Beans are a good source of fiber. I just can take them or leave them

#4. Double serving of the vegetables.

#5. Add your meat of choice. I had steak today.

#6. Add chunky tomato salsa (more veggies!)

#7. Add a tiny bit of corn. I like the flavor when it's all mixed in, but it's a starchy grain, so I don't go overboard.

#8. Add leafy green lettuce (more veggies)

#9. Top with a scoop of guacamole. Yes, it's high in calories, so if you're watching calories, ask for a half scoop. Yes, it's high in fat, but it's healthy fat, and my opinion is, healthy fat is good for you! It helps to lower your LDL, the bad cholesterol.

#10. Mix it all together so it becomes a big mish mash. Again, personal preference! Once I mix it all together, it is so delicious that I don't even think twice about there not being a tortilla, or rice or beans in there.

Now, a caveat....my veggie and steak bowl was pretty dang large. If you're trying to lose weight, you should probably not eat the entire bowl! You can ask the servers to put smaller amounts of each item into your bowl, or you can use self-control to only eat half or 3/4 of the meal.

Got a favorite restaurant, and want advice on how to eat healthy and cut calories? Post to comments and I'll help you figure it out!