The news was stunning to some news outlets, which treaded delicately on the ethically raised, fast-casual sacred cow with headlines like Why Your Chipotle Habit Is Probably Worse For You Than You Think and Chipotle Burritos Have More Calories Than We Want To Admit.

Chipotle as the standard bearer for the fast-casual movement has been marauding through a market once dominated by fast food with aplomb. While part of the appeal of Chipotle and its ilk has been its fealty to a simpler, more customizable menu, locally and more humanely raised food, and, seemingly, the superior treatment of its employees, the illusion of its health has generally persisted.

For example, take my Chipotle order, the burrito bowl, the company's most popular item, which I get with white rice, black beans, chicken, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, corn, spicy salsa, and guacamole. (To some uproar, President Obama ordered the same one back in June of last year.)

Using the company's nutrition calculator here's how my stat line looked:

That's 1060 calories, more than 75 percent of my daily fat and saturated fat intake and more than 100 percent of my daily sodium intake. (Now throw a 300-calorie tortilla around that for the burrito version.) Surprisingly, this is also 10 calories fewer than the average Chipotle customer.

Adam Chandler

Now, given the ingredients of indeterminate provenance that comprise many fast food items, most nutritionists and food ethicists would probably object, but when comparing my Chipotle order to the spread I got at the pretty representative triumvirate of fast-food restaurants, the Chipotle order fares worse. At least, non-scientifically and calorically (the latter of which being the standard the First Lady uses to promote healthy eating as well as the focus of the Times study).

McDonald's

Two Big Macs (530 each)

Total: 1,060

While I've never ordered or much less eaten two Big Macs (at least I don't think), it seems worthwhile to point out that had I downed two of them, it would be calorically equal to my regular Chipotle order. The fat content would have been exactly the same (54 grams) while the saturated fat count for the Big Macs would have been slightly higher (20 grams vs. 18.5).

Wendy's

Double Stack cheeseburger (430), Medium Fries (410)

Total: 840 calories

While I didn't actually make it through the Wendy's line, a pretty standard burger and fries order also falls far short of my Chipotle order in calories, fat, and saturated fat. Also, I could have substituted a small fries and ordered a small Frosty and I would have been nearly even with just one Chipotle burrito bowl.

Taco Bell

Nachos Supreme (450 calories), crunchy taco (170), Doritos Locos Taco (160)

Total: 780 calories

Say what you will about The Bell, but I could have wrapped my entire order in a Chipotle tortilla and still come out with nearly the identical calorie count as I would have with a burrito bowl. My Taco Bell go-to has also nearly a quarter fewer grams of both fat and saturated fat.

Popeyes

Chicken breast (420), chicken leg (170), biscuit (260), medium fries (260)

Total: 1,110 calories

This was the only meal that registered more calories than my Chipotle burrito, but only because I ordered a value meal with fries and only just barely. Had I just ordered the chicken and the biscuit (which I normally do, far too often) or had gotten a less indulgent side order ... I would feel much better than I do right now.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.