It’s not you, McDonald’s. It’s Chipotle.
I love Chipotle.
Yes, a burrito with all of the fixings has more than double the calories of a Big Mac.
But I’m not stupid. My generation isn’t stupid. Those of us who struggle with our weight don’t order a burrito.
I even went on the Chipotle website several months ago, when this miniobsession began, and did that cool calorie-counter thing to make sure I was making the best choice at the counter.
I always order the salad with beans, grilled vegetables, salsa and chicken or steak.
No sour cream. No cheese. No guacamole. No chips.
And I walk out feeling full having consumed about 350 calories.
McDonald’s, this salad tastes nothing like your salads. Your salads taste like they were packaged and refrigerated a week ago.
And just an FYI to the world: “Crispy” chicken is breaded and fried chicken. It has no place in a salad.
“From my understanding, they have healthier ingredients,” said Juan Balderas, 23, explaining why he eats at Chipotle five times a month and at McDonald’s once or twice a month.
He was sitting in a booth Wednesday doing chemistry homework with a classmate from Harold Washington College.
“I eat here more for my health.”
He didn’t order the burrito, either.
Chipotle lets me watch them cook my food. Yeah, the chicken seems to come out of a bag just like at McDonald’s, and I also know claims about sustainability or organic ingredients at a chain with more than 1,700 locations should be treated with suspicion.
But I’m talking about making a better choice, not the best choice.
And at Chipotle, I’m in control. Do I want the spicier, green salsa? A different meat? Pinto or black beans? I can mix and match a new taste without exceeding my calorie limit.
And, just my 2 cents, pinto beans are way underappreciated and much tastier than black beans.
“They have a lot of variety, sauce or spicy,” explained Amir Lavi, 25. He ordered a salad Wednesday. He does not eat at McDonald’s.
Why do some of the McDonald’s locations still look like they haven’t been renovated in a generation?
I have never been inside a drab or worn Chipotle. Love, love, love those polished concrete floors.
My husband and I had a contractor rip out the carpet and create the same look in our condo before we moved in last year. We didn’t know this in advance, but while on the job, our contractor boasted that he had installed the concrete in some area Chipotles.
And Wednesday, the Chipotle where I ate lunch was playing music by my favorite band, the Mexican acoustic guitar duo, Rodrigo y Gabriela.
Yes, if I’m caught in an airport or driving down Interstate 65 at night, McDonald’s may be the only place with the lights on. And yes, I’m going to stop at one when the alternative is a gas station.
But I’m going to order oatmeal. McDonald’s has excellent oatmeal. I think it’s better than Starbucks’ oatmeal. Now that I think about it, I’m worried that’s because it has more sugar.
Let’s see.
Ugh. 32 grams of sugar. 32!
That’s more than a person is supposed to have in an entire day. A can of Coke has 39 grams.
Apparently, thanks to Google, I just learned you can order McDonald’s oatmeal without the brown sugar. Who knew? McDonald’s, let your customers know when they have options.
Now, the only problem with Chipotle is that at 12:06 p.m. Wednesday, I counted 41 people in line at the 316 N. Michigan Ave. location.
I got there early because, as a regular, I know that the line starts snaking closer to the door around 11:45 a.m.
I’m not going to wait outside for Chipotle.
But I’m not going to run to the McDonald’s across the street, either.
Twitter @chiconfidential
