Is Anyone Else Tired of McDonald's? - Finding Silver Pennies

I’m tired of the plastic toys that come with the so-called Happy Meals and end up filling space in the playroom collecting dust because the initial excitement has worn off. I’m tired of the grease and salt loaded fries. I’m tired of lumps of fried chicken that they call chicken nuggets. I’m tired of the flat burgers and wondering what is actually in the beef.

If you also are tired of any or all of the above. I have a solution for you: Chipotle Mexican Grill!

Conor digging into his kids’ meal.

My family LOVES Chipotle. Not only is the food amazing, but it is also healthy. I feel good about taking my kids to this fast food restaurant. One of their slogans is ‘Slow Food, Fast!’ Pulled pork and slow cooked chicken. All the chicken, beef and pork comes from local farms and is raised antibiotic free and on a vegetarian diet. The fresh ingredients are cooked infront of the restaurant in an open kitchen with nothing to hide. Fresh, organic veggies heaped onto burritos or burrito bowls:

Burrito Bowl with Chicken

This is what I had for lunch one day. I actually was so full that I didn’t even eat dinner. Delicious. Brown rice with chicken, corn, black beans, shredded cheese.

Some days I go with the kids and get a kids meal (as you know, I’m quite little):

Kid’s Meal

The kid’s meal includes a quesadilla (or tacos), black beans or pinto beans, cilantro lime rice (they offer brown as well now) and freshly made chips and choice of drink (we usually opt for organic chocolate milk). All this food and cheaper and tastier than a McDonald’s Happy Meal.

John loves the rice so much that the first time we went there he asked them how do they make it. Can you believe that? He must have been 4 at the time enquiring about the rice which he thinks is De-li-cious! We also like to get a side of guac with that!

Some nights we try to do our own version, of Chipotle, at home. I do quesadillas on my sandwich toaster served with homemade guac, fat free sour cream, goya beans and this version of the rice from skinnytaste.com:

Chipotle’s “Skinny” Cilantro Lime Rice

Gina’s Weight Watcher Recipes

Servings: 4 • Size: 3/4 cup • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 5 pts

Calories: 201.0 • Fat: 3.4 • Carbs: 37.4 • Fiber: 0 • Protein: 4.0 g

1 cup extra long grain rice or basmati rice

1/2 lime, juice of

2 cups water

1 tsp salt

3 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro

3 tsp vegetable oil

In a small heavy pot, add rice, water, 1 tsp oil and salt. Boil on high until most of the water evaporates. When the water just skims the top of the rice, reduce to low and cover about 15 minutes. Shut off flame and keep covered an additional 5 minute.

In a medium bowl, combine chopped cilantro, lime juice, rice and remaining oil and toss until completely mixed.

The closest Chipotle to us is in Hingham, at Derby Street Shoppes. So if you have some time between your Christmas shopping or if you want to take the kids somewhere over the holidays, I highly recommend lunch at Chipotle. It is definitely a happy meal!