What People Generally Eat When Dining at Chipotle

If you've ever wondered what people order when they dine at Chipotle Mexican Grill, not to mention how many calories they generally scarf down, you're in luck. One group has taken the time to figure it out. A team from The New York Times got a hold of about six months worth of GrubHub orders placed in 2012 primarily at two restaurants in Washington, D.C. and East Lansing, Michigan.

They got to work sorting and calculating, and found that an average per person order packs about 1,070 calories—which is roughly half of the recommended total daily intake. According to the Times, the recommended intake for most adults is between 1,600 and 2,400 calories per day.

An example of what such a meal consists of is a standard burrito of meat, rice and beans, with the usual toppings of lettuce, sour cream, salsa and cheese. Add on a side of guacamole and chips, and you're talking over 1,500 calories. (Based on the GrubHub data, about 10% of the clientele represented in the study did just that.)

Around 2% really went for it, and managed to eclipse the 2,000 calorie mark. However, there are plenty of lower calories options at Chipotle. As the Times points out, it's very possible for customers to order meals with fewer than 650 calories. These lower calorie options often skip the cheese.

Another interesting finding from the study is the fact that most orders give you close to a full day's worth of your salt intake, and around 75% of your saturated fat intake.

Watch the video above to learn more about what people eat when dining at Chipotle.

Image Credit: GeoBeats