--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we really want to change the way…" description: "\"If we really want to change the way Americans eat, we need to make delicious, sustainably-raised food accessible to everyone. Most people are not willi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/steve-ells-9755_better_if-we-really-want-to-change-the-way-amer_440244.png" --- # If we really want to change the way Americans eat, we need… ![“If we really want to change the way Americans eat, we need to make delicious, sustainably-raised food accessible to everyone. Most people are not willing to sacrifice taste or pay a lot more when it comes to eating better. That's why the Chipotle model is so important.” quote by Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/steve-ells-9755_better_if-we-really-want-to-change-the-way-amer_440244.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/steve-ells-9755_better_if-we-really-want-to-change-the-way-amer_440244.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/steve-ells-9755_better_if-we-really-want-to-change-the-way-amer_440244.png) > “If we really want to change the way Americans eat, we need to make delicious, sustainably-raised food accessible to everyone. Most people are not willing to sacrifice taste or pay a lot more when it comes to eating better. That's why the Chipotle model is so important.” [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. To change American diets, tasty, sustainable food must be affordable; people resist sacrificing taste or paying more. **In simple terms:** Affordable, tasty, sustainable food is needed. Key Takeaway Promote accessible sustainable foods. Themes food sustainability accessibility Mood optimistic determined Type policy inspirational When to use this quote - restaurant menus - policy incentives - community programs Key Concepts consumer behavior food economics environmental impact Questions to Reflect On - How can taste be maintained while lowering cost? - What policies encourage sustainable food adoption? A Different Perspective Price and taste preferences are strong barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) ## Related quotes > [One of the pivotal moments for me was realizing that our 'food with integrity' approach at Chipotle was satisfying my passion. That's about bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/one-of-the-pivotal-moments-for-me-was-realizing-that-our-food-with/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [Chipotle was wildly successful, and I thought, 'Well, let me open one more.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/chipotle-was-wildly-successful-and-i-thought-well-let-me-open-one-more/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [Chipotle was going to incorporate all the things I had learned at the Culinary Institute and Stars and really elevate typical fast food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/chipotle-was-going-to-incorporate-all-the-things-i-had-learned-at-the/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [For too long, great food has really only been available in high-end restaurants and specialty food markets, but Chipotle is making the same gourmet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/for-too-long-great-food-has-really-only-been-available-in-high-end/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We decided long ago that we didn't want Chipotle's success to be tied to the exploitation of animals, farmers, or the environment, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-decided-long-ago-that-we-didn-t-want-chipotle-s-success-to-be-tied/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [Having never taken a business class, the economics of restaurants scared me. I opened Chipotle with the idea that I could step away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/having-never-taken-a-business-class-the-economics-of-restaurants/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [Chipotle is based on a very simple idea: We start with great ingredients, prepare them using classic cooking techniques, and serve them in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/chipotle-is-based-on-a-very-simple-idea-we-start-with-great/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [When I created Chipotle in 1993, I had a very simple idea: Offer a simple menu of great food prepared fresh each day, using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/when-i-created-chipotle-in-1993-i-had-a-very-simple-idea-offer-a/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [The idea for Chipotle is a sort of combination of food borrowed from Stars and sort of a technique and a service format borrowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/the-idea-for-chipotle-is-a-sort-of-combination-of-food-borrowed-from/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We can teach people how to run a Chipotle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-can-teach-people-how-to-run-a-chipotle/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [I started Chipotle with the idea to create an experience that's fast - and not fast food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/i-started-chipotle-with-the-idea-to-create-an-experience-that-s-fast/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We can assure you today that there is no E. coli in Chipotle. We have thoroughly tested our food, we have thoroughly tested our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-can-assure-you-today-that-there-is-no-e-coli-in-chipotle-we-have/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [Chipotle is really showing that there's a better way to do fast food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/chipotle-is-really-showing-that-there-s-a-better-way-to-do-fast-food/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [The first Chipotle was intended to be my source of funding for a full-scale restaurant, a means to an end. But it turned out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/the-first-chipotle-was-intended-to-be-my-source-of-funding-for-a-full/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [When I started Chipotle, I didn't know the fast-food rules. People told us the food was too expensive and the menu was too limited.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/when-i-started-chipotle-i-didn-t-know-the-fast-food-rules-people-told/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) ## More by Steve Ells > [You know, I hate to borrow Apple's tag, but think different. Really. From the very beginning. I didn't know what the fast-food rules were.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/you-know-i-hate-to-borrow-apple-s-tag-but-think-different-really-from/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [The economic model was formed by the constraints that I had: a small space, relatively inexpensive building materials, relatively inexpensive investment, a very efficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/the-economic-model-was-formed-by-the-constraints-that-i-had-a-small/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [When I started on the very first day with just one restaurant, we used to pick oregano off the stems and chop them. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/when-i-started-on-the-very-first-day-with-just-one-restaurant-we-used/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We have two day-parts, lunch and dinner. We don't have breakfast. We don't have drive-thru. We don't have late night. We don't have 24-hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-have-two-day-parts-lunch-and-dinner-we-don-t-have-breakfast-we-don/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [Our investors are here for only one reason: great returns. They want to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/our-investors-are-here-for-only-one-reason-great-returns-they-want-to/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [One of the pivotal moments for me was realizing that our 'food with integrity' approach at Chipotle was satisfying my passion. That's about bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/one-of-the-pivotal-moments-for-me-was-realizing-that-our-food-with/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [When our folks focus on exactly what is needed to succeed in the restaurants, they should be able to lead themselves to restaurateur level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/when-our-folks-focus-on-exactly-what-is-needed-to-succeed-in-the/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [I'm very much looking forward to relentlessly focusing on ensuring an excellent guest experience, removing unnecessary complexity from our operations, championing innovation, and pursuing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/i-m-very-much-looking-forward-to-relentlessly-focusing-on-ensuring-an/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [When our employees walk in in the morning, they see food. They have to cook. At the restaurants, we chop cilantro, onions, and limes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/when-our-employees-walk-in-in-the-morning-they-see-food-they-have-to/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We want to show all of our customers that the industry standards that we had been employing before - which are considered great standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-want-to-show-all-of-our-customers-that-the-industry-standards-that/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [The earliest recollection I have of being in the kitchen and cooking was in the third grade, and we lived in Germany. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/the-earliest-recollection-i-have-of-being-in-the-kitchen-and-cooking/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We aspire to make artisanal tortillas on an industrial scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-aspire-to-make-artisanal-tortillas-on-an-industrial-scale/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We have a terrific team, and our managers are terrific managers, but we have made it too complicated for them and too complicated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-have-a-terrific-team-and-our-managers-are-terrific-managers-but-we/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [If food is processed - like canned or frozen - you can reduce the risks of pathogens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/if-food-is-processed-like-canned-or-frozen-you-can-reduce-the-risks/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [Certainly, in college, I had no idea what I wanted to do, I studied art history and had a great time, but I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/certainly-in-college-i-had-no-idea-what-i-wanted-to-do-i-studied-art/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) [Explore all 70 Steve Ells quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) ## More Better quotes > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. 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