A Conscious Burrito

Having grown up in New Mexico, I have come to the conclusion that there is perhaps no greater food concoction than the almighty burrito. No other menu item boasts the versatility allowed by this cylindrical masterpiece. Breakfast, dinner and even dessert can be tackled by the simple, yet endlessly adaptable burrito. Some might argue that this work of culinary genius could never be improved upon. Well, the popular Mexican food chain, Chipotle, could certainly argue otherwise. The burrito is the backbone of this national franchise, and with it Chipotle is turning fast food morally just and eco-friendly.

Chipotle is a Mexican restaurant that prepares burritos in the same fashion Subway restaurants prepare sandwiches, assembly line style. This joint started in Colorado and has exploded onto the American fast food scene of late. But, other than being lumped into this all-encompassing category, this fast food chain is unlike all the rest, with its philosophy of “Food With Integrity.” The company website features a statement from the company founder, CEO and Chairman Steve Ells that reads, “‘Food With Integrity’ [is] a philosophy that we can always do better in terms of the food we buy. And, when we say better, we mean better in every sense of the word — better tasting, coming from better sources, better for the environment, better for the animals, and better for the farmers who raise the animals and grow the produce.”

My first encounter with Chipotle was in college when one opened near the University of Washington campus in Seattle. Since my first burrito, the place’s reputation has done nothing but skyrocket, and the eco-friendly, community-promoting commitment to betterment is surely helping its cause. Chipotle has implemented the idea of serving naturally raised meat (more so, in fact, than any other restaurant in the nation, according to its website), promotes sustainable farming practices and works with “dairy suppliers to eliminate the use of added hormones from their operations.” Two Chipotle restaurants, one in Minnetonka, MN, and the other in Gurnee, IL, are even LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Suffice it to say that there have been many Chipotle burritos in my past, and surely more in my future, but the environmental convictions of this company have caught the attention of many fans of big, hunkin’ burritos and green-thinking consumers alike. Though it’s not the greenest food around (yet), if you’re craving a greener version of the world’s most stellar fast food item, you can’t go wrong with Chipotle.