Qdoba | Detailed

Overview

Qdoba has very similar tradeoffs with Chipotle. However, there's more menu items that can be included, as well as new ones to certainly be excluded.

Recommendations

Chicken/Impossible Burrito Bowl (Full Order):

Tip: Again, like Chipotle & Moe's Southwest Grill, make sure to split your burrito bowl in half (including the chicken, so the protein is evenly dispersed!). This will allow you to eat the other half later to maintain stable blood sugar levels, which helps manage energy levels throughout the day.

1. Grilled Marinated Chicken - leanest protein source available OR Impossible Meat, which Qdoba recently came out with. I would recommend the Impossible Meat as a healthier alternative because of the reduced cholesterol, but the chicken is a solid choice as well even with the additional cholesterol. Regardless of which meat you choose, request a double portion since we'll be splitting the bowl in half
2. Brown Rice - lowers cholesterol, helps digestive tract, and promotes fullness. In most scenarios, whether at Qdoba or another restaurant, brown rice will be more nutritious than white rice or fried rice
3. Black Beans - maintains healthy bones, lowers blood pressure, and assists in fighting heart disease
4. Fajita Vegetables - Onions have lots of nutrients, antioxidants, and improve heart health and Peppers are high in antioxidants, maintain eye health, and reduce the risk of chronic illnesses. Typically, Qdoba won't offer it if you've chosen meat, but they will give it to you free of charge when requested
5. Pico de Gallo - high in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and fights cancer
6. Guacamole - 20 different vitamins and minerals, improves heart health, and lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Unlike Chipotle, Qdoba does not charge a premium for guacamole, which has good fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats) and fiber
7. Cilantro - practically no calories, a fair amount of potassium for the serving size and adds flavor. Lowers cholesterol relieves skin disorders and regulates blood pressure

Optional Add-ons:

1. Corn tortillas - if you’d like, you can request free corn tortillas from Qdoba. Corn tortillas have more nutritional benefits than flour tortillas because they're high in fiber, strengthen cells and bones, and help metabolism. If you decide to order the corn tortillas, remove the brown rice or black beans from your order to compensate for the additional carbohydrates of the tortillas.
2. Fiery Habanero Salsa - feel free to add this to your bowl for more flavor, but recognize that there’s a good amount of sodium in this and it will add quite a bit of spice.
3. Pickled Jalapenos - if you want to add some sweet and spice to your bowl, they assist in weight loss, relieving pain, and prevents stomach ulcers. Again, similar to the fiery habanero salsa, there's quite a bit of sodium so keep this in mind when thinking about your sodium intake throughout the day.
4. Mango Salsa - improves asthma prevention, fights cancer, and improves bone health.
5. Black Bean Corn Salsa - offered at select Qdoba locations. Contains lots of fiber and good vegetables for more nutrients, so if available, feel free to add to your bowl.

Generally, there's more sodium and cholesterol than other fast food options, but with the correct components, Qdoba can provide quite balanced meals so long as you’re avoiding particular add-ons (e.g. queso, chips, sour cream).

More Useful Tools

Quick Guide - for when you're on the go and/or need to know what the suggestions are without all the detail

Detailed Notes - consolidated notes for each fast-food establishment