The Observer, September 14, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 3
Lighten Up: More to seemingly unhealthy Qdoba than meets the eye
As the first few weeks of school come to an end and the dining halls, chefs, and our own cooking abilities stop impressing us, we students will be forced to find a delicious lunch or dinner elsewhere. So where can you get a tasty and healthy meal close by? Ever heard of Qdoba?
Qdoba is not usually the restaurant that comes to mind when most people think "healthy." Qdoba, located on the corner of Euclid and Mayfield next to Quizno's, opened last year and offers fast and yummy Mexican food. But, as most of us know, eating a burrito that weighs about five pounds is not the best idea when trying to avoid, or get rid of, the freshman 15. However, if you put a little thought into what you order, it is not hard to find a healthy meal at Qdoba.
By going to http://www.qdoba.com, clicking "Menu," and then selecting "Fresher Means Healthier," you will find a number of healthy options at Qdoba. For example, a low-calorie meal such as the Tortilla Soup trio, which consists of a taco, tortilla soup, and a diet beverage, is only 360 calories! Other lower-calorie meals include the Naked Taco Salad and the Garlic Herb Grilled Veggie Naked Taco Salad.
If you are watching your fat intake, Qdoba offers the Naked Faijta Ranchera Burrito, my personal favorite! This delicious combination of rice, chicken, or steak, fajita veggies, ranchera sauce, and a choice of salsa is a manageable 18 grams of fat and 500 calories, which is nothing compared to some of the 1100-plus calorie burritos they also offer.
Qdoba's website also offers suggested meals for those watching their carbohydrate intake, such as the Queso Naked Burrito or the Pablano Pesto Naked Burrito.
If for some reason none of these options sound good to you, Qdoba offers a nutrition calculator on their website. The nutrition calculator can be found by going to http://www.qdoba.com then clicking the 'Menu" button. Next, click the link that says, "Click here for nutritional and allergen information." Finally, click on "Calculator."
This feature allows you to build your own meal and then look at the nutrition value. For example, if you are craving a burrito, click "Signature Burritos." Then, you can choose whether or not you want a tortilla, the type of beans you prefer, a type of meat or vegetables, etc. After you finish building your meal, click the calculate button. The calculator then allows you to see the nutritional value of the entire meal and each individual item. If you are unhappy with the amount of fat in your meal you may consider looking at the nutritional facts for the cheese and then ask for just a little bit of cheese, or cut it out entirely.
By planning your meal before you go to Qdoba, it is much easier to make a healthy decision. In addition, it allows you to go out and enjoy a meal knowing you will not be eating enough calories and fat for an entire day. The next time you want to avoid the dining hall and go out for some comida mexicano, consider a healthy meal at Qdoba! Qdoba even accepts CaseCash, and most importantly, Qdoba can help you lighten up!
