{"id":26252,"date":"2015-12-06T18:14:24","date_gmt":"2015-12-06T23:14:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomeatathlete.com\/?p=26252"},"modified":"2022-04-07T08:05:39","modified_gmt":"2022-04-07T12:05:39","slug":"chipotle-method","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomeatathlete.com\/chipotle-method\/","title":{"rendered":"The Chipotle Method: A Simple Formula for Making Healthy, 5-Minute Vegan Meals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This post is written by Matt Jager from <\/em>Don’t Lose the Cow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ever feel totally overwhelmed by the busyness of modern life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re anything like me, you know what it\u2019s like to go for weeks at a time with hardly a break, from the time you slap the alarm in the morning until your head hits the pillow at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between the responsibilities of work, kids, running errands, shopping, chopping, cleaning, cooking, and commuting, there just isn\u2019t any time left over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d need at least a 72-hour day to get it all done, have time to cook a healthy meal from scratch, and settle in for the recommended eight hours of sleep each night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little dramatic for effect yes, but the truth is that modern life can be downright exhausting. And when life is exhausting, what tends to go out the window first?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s right. You. Taking care of yourself. And along with that, taking the time to prepare those healthy foods that you know you should be eating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But how are we supposed to eat healthy when we are so insanely busy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Of course, there is no replacement for a long, delicious, home-cooked meal shared with family and friends, accompanied with laughter and great conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We should all strive to make space for this ideal in our life. Mindful eating, good company, and a close connection with our food are all things to be nurtured and cherished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the reality of the day-to-day doesn\u2019t often make this possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you come home exhausted and starving after a long day of work, the last thing you want to do is spend an hour or more putting a healthy meal on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s one thing if you\u2019ve planned a delicious meal in advance and have the recipe and ingredients ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

But unfortunately, that\u2019s usually not the case. You end up searching the cabinets and fridge, trying to figure out what you can throw together with two carrots, a can of black beans and the last quarter of a bottle of vegan Worcestershire sauce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for those of us with a significant other or kids, it gets even more complicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if your dear other half doesn\u2019t like what you make? What if you spend two hours slaving in the kitchen to put a healthy meal on the table and the kids won\u2019t even try it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately there is an alternative method that is flexible, stress free, and doesn\u2019t require hours of shopping, washing and chopping veggies, and precisely measuring out spices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why quick and easy meals are the key to long-term success<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your kitchen is more madness than method, it takes a special kind of willpower to stay the course. Most of us end up ordering out for pizza thinking, \u201cOk, I\u2019ll actually get serious about this diet tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tomorrow you\u2019ll plan ahead. Tomorrow you\u2019ll come home with the energy to cook the meal. Tomorrow you\u2019ll be 100% compliant, no exceptions. Reality check: It\u2019s never gonna happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s absolutely imperative to learn how to make quick and easy meals that are delicious and satisfying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it isn\u2019t as easy to prepare a healthy meal as it is to hop in the car and head through the drive-through, the likelihood that you\u2019ll follow through long-term goes down dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ensuring that you have easy access to the right foods at all times is a huge part of setting yourself up for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So today, I\u2019m going to share with you one method for adding simple delicious dishes to your repertoire, so you can get in and out of the kitchen in a zip without sacrificing health or taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introducing the Chipotle Method for Making Plant-Based Meals in 5-Minutes Or Less<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As you can see from the infographic above, the Chipotle Method uses everyday ingredients, has just a few basic steps that are impossible to mess up, and relies on fail-proof, \u201cwow factor\u201d items that can turn any meal from mediocre to mouthwatering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Veggie<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll get into the details in just a moment, but the basic premise is simple: Pre-prep or buy basic ingredients, and create different dishes by combining these ingredients in different ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any salad bar or buffet employs a similar concept, and if you\u2019ve ever eaten at Chipotle you\u2019ll really know where I\u2019m coming from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You choose your base and then walk down the line, adding the previously prepared ingredients of your choosing. A bowl? A salad? A taco? A burrito? It\u2019s the same ingredients, put into a different package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five minutes later your meal is ready, and you are on the way to your table. The truly amazing part? You get a fair amount of variety, there is something for everyone, and it\u2019s always satisfying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are literally thousands of permutations of possible meals, and it\u2019s not just for Mexican food. By exploring different ingredients and sauces you can cover a surprising amount of ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can bring these same fast food principles into our own kitchens. If you\u2019re struggling to successfully transition to a plant-based diet, or are having difficulty finding the time to cook meals at home, this approach can make all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy, requires minimal planning, and always turns out delicious. And once you get the idea it is infinitely adaptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is how you can turn your kitchen into a lean, mean, food-prep machine and put together hearty plant-based meals in a flash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Keep the basics on hand<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first step to implementing the Chipotle Method is to make sure you keep the basic ingredients on hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These items provide the base for the majority of the Chipotle Method meals, and ensure that you don\u2019t have to make any extra trips to the grocery store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before I go to the grocery store, I take a quick inventory and make sure I\u2019m stocked up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are our basic staples:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n