Satisfying Your Cravings: A Closer Look at the Calories in Rubio’s Classic Grilled Shrimp Burrito

As a food blogger and nutrition enthusiast, I’m always interested in finding balanced ways to satisfy cravings for my favorite meals. One of my go-to orders is the classic grilled shrimp burrito from Rubio’s Coastal Grill. It hits the spot when I’m looking for a hearty and flavorful option. However, being health-conscious, I also pay close attention to calories and nutritional content.

In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the full nutrition facts and calorie count of a Rubio’s classic shrimp burrito paired with tortilla chips. My goal is to provide a clear picture of the caloric impact so you can make informed choices about how to balance this indulgence in your overall diet.

An Overview of Calories in the Classic Grilled Shrimp Burrito

To start let’s look at the big picture calorie count

• A single classic grilled shrimp burrito from Rubio’s contains 930 calories

• Pairing it with a side of tortilla chips adds approximately 220 calories.

• So the total calories come to 1,150 for the combination burrito and chips order.

That’s certainly a high calorie meal, even when split between lunch and dinner. As we’ll explore next, those hefty calories come mostly from fat and carbohydrates.

Breaking Down the Classic Burrito’s Nutrition Facts

Delving into the nutrition facts provides helpful context on where those 930 burrito calories come from:

• Total fat: 38g – Contributing 340 calories (36% of total)
• Saturated fat: 13g – High at 65% of recommended daily value
• Cholesterol: 110mg – Also 37% of daily recommended value
• Sodium: 1,830mg – Adds up to 76% of daily recommended sodium
• Total carbohydrates: 117g – Making up 50% of calories at 465 calories
• Dietary fiber: 8g – A positive 32% of daily recommendation
• Sugars: 4g
• Protein: 33g – Providing a filling 132 calories (14% of total)

With 58% of its calories from fat and 50% from carbs, it’s clear this burrito skews heavy on those higher-calorie macros. The 38 grams of total fat includes high amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol compared to recommended daily limits. Additionally, the very high 1,830 milligrams of sodium is eye-opening.

On the plus side, you get a hefty 33 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber for some filling, energizing nutrients. But overall, the classic grilled shrimp burrito is quite high in less healthy calories and sodium when eating the entire thing in one meal.

Tortilla Chips Also Pack in Carbs and Fat

Adding tortilla chips to your Rubio’s order piles on even more calories, carbs, and fat:

• The tortilla chips side order provides 220 extra calories in each serving.

• The majority of those chips calories come from 26 grams of carbohydrates and 10 grams of fat.

• Interestingly, tortilla chips have just 1 gram of protein and 2 grams of fiber, so they don’t offer much nutritional benefit beyond carbs for energy.

With the tortilla chips pushing total carb grams to 143 and total fat grams to 48, this combination meal really loads you up with energy-dense macro-nutrients. It’s smart to be mindful of that impact across your daily or weekly diet.

Strategies to Balance Indulgence with Nutrition

Now that we’ve uncovered the hard numbers, how can we enjoy Rubio’s shrimp burritos and still eat healthily? Here are some suggestions:

• Split between two meals – Consuming half the burrito at lunch and half at dinner cuts the calories, carbs, fat etc. in one sitting.

• Share with a friend – Splitting the order provides a reasonable single meal when combined with healthier sides.

• Substitute brown rice – Choosing regular brown rice over tortilla chips reduces the calorie load.

• Load up on veggies – Adding extra lettuce, tomato, onion and salsa boosts nutrition without adding calories.

• Pair with a salad – Surrounding the burrito with a low-calorie salad provides fiber and nutrients.

• Skip the tortilla – Ordering a shrimp bowl without the tortilla wrapper significantly reduces carbs, sodium and calories.

• Only eat half the chips – Portioning tortilla chips into smaller servings controls overindulgence in this salty, fatty side.

• Drink water – Washing it all down with water instead of sugary drinks prevents even more excess calories.

The Verdict: Indulge Wisely in Moderation

Rubio’s classic grilled shrimp burrito certainly satisfies cravings with its flavorful blend of shrimp, rice, beans, cheese and crispy tortilla shell. However, the 930 calories and heavy load of fat, sodium and carbs requires some caution. By splitting portions, adding veggies, sharing chips conservatively, and pairing with lighter options, we can keep this indulgence from derailing daily nutrition goals.

In my personal food diary, I know a shrimp burrito dinner from Rubio’s costs me an extra spin class or long run. But as an occasional treat balanced by nutritious eating the rest of the day, it’s an amount of calories I don’t mind budgeting for the sensory joy and satisfaction it brings! Hopefully this detailed analysis gives you the knowledge to make Rubio’s burritos work within your own healthy lifestyle.