When you think of the fast food chain Chipotle Mexican Grill, do you ever think “healthy”? Or do you imagine greasy burritos, tacos, and even food poisoning, an unfortunate event the chain is known for having outbreaks of?
We want to erase all of that from your memory! In recent times, Chipotle has actually made enormous strides to put themselves on a health pedestal. And it’s finally happened!
First of all, not too long ago, Chipotle went completely GMO-free. That means that their 46 ingredients used in about 1,800 restaurants will now be completely free of genetically modified organisms, making it the first major US chain to make this kind of switch.
And now, they’re making another healthy switch. They’re beginning to roll out new menu item called “Lifestyle Bowls,” which is friendly for three major trending diets: paleo, ketogenic and Whole 30.
“These first-to-category, diet-driven menu offerings are helping those who have committed to living a healthier lifestyle by making it easy to order delicious bowls that only contain the real ingredients permitted by certain diet regimens,” Chris Brandt, Chipotle’s chief marketing officer, said.
Here’s a look into these new healthy bowls:
Whole 30 Salad Bowl: Romaine lettuce, carnitas, fajita veggies, tomato salsa and guacamole
Paleo Salad Bowl: Romaine lettuce, barbacoa, fajita veggies, green salsa and guacamole
Keto Salad Bowl: Romaine lettuce, carnitas, red salsa, cheese and guacamole
Double Protein Bowl: White rice, black beans, chicken (full portion), steak (full portion), red salsa, romaine lettuce and sour cream
Um, yum! While there’s no new ingredients in here per se, it’s just making people on these diets’ lives much easier and the meal plans even more accessible.
“We’ve watched guests custom create lifestyle-specific bowls when ordering in our restaurants, so it made sense to offer delicious options via our online channels that help people easily order bowls with real ingredients that help them stick to their wellness goals,” Brandt stated.
These bowls fit perfectly into these diets. The keto diet focuses on limiting carbs and increasing fats, which puts your body into a state of ketosis (burning fat instead of carbs for energy). Whole 30 limits your sugar, grain, dairy, and legume intake for a period of 30 days. Paleo allows for grass-fed meat, fish, fresh fruits and veggies, eggs, certain nuts and seeds, and healthy oils.
As far as food poisoning? Well, Chipotle has a new CEO, Brian Niccol, who has turned the chain around after their multiple outbreaks over the years with these and more new offerings. The restaurant’s stock alone increased 40 percent last year since Niccol joined the crew. They’re finally coming back, and this is just going to help the cause!
While Chipotle is the first fast food chain to make these kinds of changes, Taco Bell is a solid runner-up, recently becoming another unexpected healthy fast food chain— even deemed one of America’s healthiest. Taco Bell also recently revamped their menu to include more healthy, wholesome options. Can you believe it?
Want to order one of Chipotle’s bowls? Check out the video below to find out how you can get one for yourself!
Are you a Chipotle fan? What do you think about the chain putting health first? Would you try these new bowls?