LAist: Fast Food that Will Still Respect You in the Morning

bobzilla77

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:39:01 -0800

I think it's worth pointing out places that at least offer healthy options even if not every menu item meets criteria. Jared from Subway didn't get that way eating ten triple-bacon and mayo sandwiches a day, although they ARE available. The organic grocery isn't good for you if you all you ever eat is the cheesecake.

Tony Pierce

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:40:42 -0800

elise, you picked some of my all time favorite eats in LA - the Z and Chipotle. however i had no idea that McD's fully divested a year ago. no wonder nothing has changed at Chipotle in years - because there isnt a huge corporation to fuck it up. i love their burritos especially that spicy beef deal. pretty much the only time i eat red meat. thanks for this!!

samkim

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:40:24 -0800

still friends :). it was a nice gesture for you to post about cheaper/quick alternatives after the massive amount of turkey we consumed this last week. this reminds me of a very nice steve lopez article i read last year that i can't find anywhere on the stupid latimes website but this blog explaining it will have to do for now part 1 http://livinglargela.blogspot.com/2007/04/steve-lopezs-super-sized-contest.html part 2 http://livinglargela.blogspot.com/2007/04/slippery-shrimp-foils-us-all.html and as much as i pretend to know about food i can't seem to offer any alternatives to those you listed. ohwell.

Elise Thompson

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:37:28 -0800

OK, First - Colinski - yes, I have been eating at the Zankou on Sepulveda forever. They have completely conquered the Eastside and are now opening more restaurants in the Valley. I expect they will eventually take over the entire world. Sorry "move in on" was too vague. You would not believe how many people think I mean "Hamburger Hamlet" when I say "The Habit's hamburger". Charmon: Some of my friends are vegetarian for health reasons, or to lessen their impact on the environment, or because they just don't like meat, but they don't mind trace amounts touching their food. They will pick pepperoni right off of a pizza and eat the pizza. Other friends are vegetarian for religious, moral, ethical, or aesthetic reasons, and would be grossed out by their vegetarian food being cooked on the same grill as a burger. If you don't consider the first group vegetarians, I can't argue with you. But I believe in people's right to self-identify. Samkin: Well, you just blew my mind. Chipotle is new to me, and I was taken in by their earnest manifesto. I must argue, though, if you were to get a bowl with only meat, lettuce and salsa it is still low carb-friendly. And you can add beans if you follow a low glycemic-index diet. As for low-fat, everyone knows to avoid the guacamole, cheese and sour cream. And the burritos are huge. The burrito is cut in half in my picture for a reason. It would be nice if they provided the nutritional content for each item to help you make healthier choices. I will change my rating. I was equally surprised when I looked up the nutritional info on The Habit. At first blush, it seemed healthier. I think the halo effect of Topz, which formerly occupied the location had blinded me. I was going to cover Topz as well as another bunch of spots in my next post, but after this one I'm probably better off writing about religion, politics, porn and weed. Much less controversial. Whew, OK. Still friends? Hug it out.

charmon

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:22:43 -0800

FYI - I was about to get all uppity about the Chipotle being owned by McDonald's thing but found out McDonald's "divested" entirely in 2006. So....yeah. For what that's worth. Although, I still don't trust 'em.

samkim

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:46:31 -0800

are you kidding me? CHipotle Low-Fat Friendly NO Low-Carb Friendly NO "Chipotle, the fast-growing, McDonald's- affiliated fresh-Mex chain, doesn't disclose the calorie or saturated fat content of its burritos. But the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)--the "food police" that blew the whistle on the fat content of popular Italian, Chinese, and fast-food restaurant fare--sent some of Chipotle's most popular burritos to an independent laboratory for analysis. Those results--as well as nutrition numbers provided by Chipotle's competition--are exposed in the October issue of CSPI's Nutrition Action Healthletter. First of all, says CSPI, fresh Mex-restaurants offer a lot of things fast food restaurants don't. Fresh veggies, grilled seafood and chicken, salsas, and beans abound. It's certainly possible to get a healthful meal relatively low in saturated fat and high in dietary fiber. But some menu items can easily top 1,000 calories--and just about everything has too much salt. That's more calories than the vast majority of sandwiches or fast-food burgers, according to CSPI. "Fresh Mex chains cultivate an aura of healthfulness, and sometimes it's deserved," said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson. "But because Chipotle doesn't reveal calories or other nutrition information, most people wouldn't have a clue that a Vegetarian Burrito is the equivalent of an overstuffed corned beef sandwich--plus 350 calories. Chipotle's Carnitas Burrito is like an artillery shell filled with a day's worth of saturated fat and sodium." Among CSPI's findings: * Chipotle's Chicken Burrito (with black beans, rice, cheese, and salsa) weighs in at nearly 1,000 calories and 12 grams of saturated fat. * Chipotle's Vegetarian Burrito (with black beans, rice, cheese, guacamole, and salsa) weighs over a pound and provides 1,120 calories and three-quarters of a day's worth of saturated fat (14 grams). * Chipotle's Barbacoa Burrito (with shredded beef, pinto beans, rice, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and salsa) hits nearly 1,300 calories and three-quarters of a day's worth of saturated fat. That's the equivalent of a Quarter Pounder, a large order of fries, and a large Coke. * Chipotle's Chicken Burrito Bols--burritos without the 340-calorie flour tortillas--are CSPI's only recommended "Better Bites" at Chipotle. A Bol with chicken, black beans, lettuce, and salsa, has just 430 calories and four grams of saturated fat. Rice instead of lettuce adds about 200 calories. If you want a Chipotle Burrito and not a Bol, CSPI advises consumers holding the cheese and sour cream. That can save 200 calories and a half a day's worth of saturated fat. We estimate that skipping the rice could save 200 calories more. And most Chipotle Burritos are big enough for two meals: Just ask your server to wrap each half separately." Even without the rice/sour cream thats still a shitload http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/chipotle

charmon

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:24:05 -0800

Gah! There it is again! "Vegetarian friendly: Only if you're strict." The definition of a vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat. Period. A person who eats meat only when they feel like it is called a normal-eater. Yes, normal-eater is a technical term. Sorry for the rant - nothing personal. But as a "strict" vegetarian, it upsets me when people claim the title without the commitment.

Hindinwood

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:12:14 -0800

You forgot my best friend, Astro Burger (Melrose, not SM)!!

Colinski

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:29:01 -0800

"Zankou is finally starting to move in on the . . . Valley"? Actually, Zankou has been in the Valley on Sepulveda at Burbank for many years. I was eating there a decade ago. The food is delicious, but that garlic sauce combined with the hummus gives me the gas from hell. Also, it boggles my mind that someone would confuse the names "Hamburger Hamlet" and "The Habit". Were you meaning to say, "not to be confused with 'Hamburger Habit' on National at Sepulveda"?

Carrie Meathrell

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:20:43 -0800

I want falafel. And garlic sauce. Right now. Oh god right now.