Breakfast Adventures at Panera
It wasn't until recently that I figured out something REALLY important -- there's a Panera RIGHT ON MY WAY TO WORK! It's hard to explain how exciting this development is. No matter that it took me 9 months to realize it. The point is that I *did* figure it out and IT IS FANTASTIC.
Obviously, I'm a Panera fan. I have been for a very long time. In fact, I think I loved Panera before anybody in Pittsburgh did because I loved it when I lived in Ohio in college. I'm relatively certain Panera opened in Pittsburgh after Ohio.
Anyway. I first fell in love with the place because of the fast food that doesn't come with a "fast food" feel. The staff is friendly. The food is fresh. The menu is fantastic.
Fast forward a decade (::cough:: or more ::cough::) and I'm still a fan. Now, though, I have a new favorite thing about Panera. Now I love that the menu clearly notes nutrition information. See also: I care about that stuff now. See also also: I am a grown up and stuff.
Seriously, I love having nutrition information in front of my face because it helps me make smarter decisions.
For example, when I stop into Panera to grab breakfast on my way to work, my first thought is to get a Cinnamon Crunch Bagel with Wild Blueberry Cream Cheese. If you've never had the pleasure, DO IT. They are so good. SO GOOD.
They're also over 500 calories. So.
That means that they are a sometimes breakfast. They're not an every day breakfast, although they are so good that very easily could eat one every day.
If I'm feeling that I might need to go a little more conservative with the calorie count, I go for the Chocolate Pastry. It's another favorite, one which I will get just about anywhere, but which is always best at Panera.
A little over 400 calories. Worth it.
If I'm fully aware that it's a good morning to keep things light, I get a Breakfast Power sandwich. I tell Panera to save the ham for someone else, so the sandwich ends up around 300 calories. Totally acceptable.
No matter which direction I go in, I win because I get a delicious breakfast that's the right fit for my day.
Now Panera is introducing another way to win with the Panera Breakfast Backstory Challenge for MyPanera® members. You have a chance to win a Breville Juice Fountain Elite, a Breville Barista Espresson maker, a KitchenAid Professional Stand Mixer, or a trip to New York City for two. All you have to do to enter is sign up for MyPanera (it's free and they give you free stuff just for signing up) and then complete the challenges here. The challenges are things like "read this" or "watch this" or "drool over this recipe."
I completed the challenge in under ten minutes. It's easy. Also, there is some interesting content there, such as this video:
To celebrate the fun that is the Panera Breakfast Backstory Challenge, Panera and BlogHer have teamed up to give away a $100 Panera gift card. In the comments below, please tell me your favorite way to start the day and you'll be entered to win.
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winner will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 11/13/13 – 12/8/13.
Be sure to visit the Panera Bread's page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Reader Comments (213)
I love their coffee and an asiago cheese bagel. So yummy!
My favorite way to start the day is a cup of hot tea. I can't function until I have my hot tea.
I LOVE their hazelnut coffee!
my favorite way to start the day? sex.
(hey, you asked!)
may i please still be entered to win the panera $100? because i like them. :)
I have several favorites. The cinnamon crunch bagel never ever fails me (except for when they run out!), but when I'm feeling a protein-fueled day, I go for the egg & cheese and add lettuce and tomato (and avocado, if they have it). It is so SO good :) Now I want one...thanks...
i tweeted!
https://twitter.com/hellohahanarf/status/401041880965599232
My favorite way to start the day is a 2 mile walk through the woods with my dad and my dog and then a cup of coffee or two. :)
I love their hazelnut coffee in the morning, or anytime before 8 PM.
As far as Panera is concerned, I love the chocolate chip muffies. I try not to have them too often because it's basically chocolate cake, but some days you just need chocolate in the morning. I also like their fruit and yogurt parfaits.
On non-Panera days, I've been really into Greek yogurt with some fruit and a little cereal or granola. I'm not a big eater in the morning and that gets me some protein without feeling like I'm stuffing myself.
My favorite way to start the day is a cup of coffee and a chocolate croissant. My more responsible way to start the day is a cup of coffee and greek yogurt with granola.
I love Panera. They are my second office when I need to get away and get some real work done!
This time of the year you must go with the Pumpkin Pie bagels or the Pumpkin muffin tops...YUMMY
I love starting my morning off by dropping off my twins at preschool and heading to my local Panera. I usually get the Cinnamon Crunch bagel, yum! BEST. MORNINGS. EVER!
I tweeted ;)
https://twitter.com/mamarazzix2/status/401058229850882049
My Favorite Way To Start The Day Is A Cup Of Coffee Reading The Newspaper During Sunrise!
I have to have coffee to start my day. My typical breakfast is oatmeal (with a bunch of other stuff added - walnuts, raisins, and wheat germ - especially when I'm marathon training). BUT. TODAY I had a cinnamon crunch bagel with hazelnut cream cheese from Panera! What timing! I only go there a couple of times a year and this morning was one of those times! LOVE their stuff and I really appreciate the atmosphere, especially when I'm sans kiddos.
I Tweeted: https://twitter.com/reinaheather/status/401064642740375552
Their iced green tea and chocolate pastries are my favorite!
I normally start my day with the alarm going off several times. I roll out of bed clean up and get ready for work and either grab a Dr. Pepper before I head off to work or get one once I arrive at work. There are quite a few mornings when I am starving and just ignore it until lunch time.
My husband and I love to eat at Panera. We have one right by our house that we like to go to. It has the atmosphere of a Starbucks or a Barnes and Nobel where you can sit and visit, read or get some work done. The upside is it has the best food and deserts. Much better than the other two place I mentioned. I didn't know that Panera served breakfast. I to tell my husband and we will have to go check it out.
Thank you for letting us know!
Jackie
I start my day by exercising, usually Tae Bo (I know the 90's called and wants their video back). Then I have a quick shower and a protien bar. We (the hubs and I) heart Panera too! We go every Sunday for brunch. I usually have soup and he has the pick two. Love it love it love it!
I like to start my day with a cup of coffee
https://twitter.com/elis689/status/401120557472555009
My favorite way to start the day is with coffee but my favorite way to start my Saturday is at the Panera Bread in South Park Shops. I go there every Saturday and get a coffee and Multi Grain Bagel with Peanut Butter to fuel up before I run my 12 miles in South Park. I heart Panera!!!!!
I love their Hazelnut coffee.. My favorite is to just go there and surf the web while drinking coffee and enjoying one of their bagels!
I need a hot beverage first thing in the morning--whether it's coffee or tea depends on my mood. And how groggy I am (because I only drink herbal tea).
I love my home made bagels, actually, but obviously I can't make them all the time. But I do often think of them dreamily.
I love caramel lattes, and the simple pleasure of a plain toasted bagel with light cream cheese. But I also enjoy almost every baked good they have.
Twitter entry here: https://twitter.com/MerebearStaton/status/401164242235035648
Love to start the day with a hot, hearty breakfast..usually eggs and oats or toast.
I like to start my day with fruit and yogurt.
tweet--https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/401180094351163392
A strong cup of coffee.
I love to start my day without the help of an alarm clock or a child waking me up. It's rare to sleep until I'm ready to get up.
I can't do anything without coffee, I'm hopeless
LOVE their cinnamon crunch bagel, too...just prefer to pretend like I don't know the number of calories involved :)
COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE!!
Never thought to try anything other than plain cream cheese in the cinnamon crunch bagel. Must try the blueberry! My favorite way to start the morning is iced coffee and some sort of carb.
I love the secret menu that's available in Kansas!
I stopped going to Panera in Pittsburgh because of this http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/12/black-worker-files-2nd-pa_0_n_1202310.html. I dont believe that that is an appropriate way to do business.
My favorite way to start the day is with a hot cup of tea and a warm scone! I have not done anything special for myself recently but seeing my children enjoy their lives is special enough to make me happy every day.
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/401442782834728960
My favorite way to start the day is with a good breakfast, a Coke and some reading (blogs, news, devotional, etc).
I tweeted the giveaway also: https://twitter.com/seabattle2/status/401449344424869888
My favorite way to start the day is to sleep in a little longer ... HA!
But, seriously, nothing beats a good breakfast spread! ;)
i love to have coffee
tweet: https://twitter.com/akronugurl/status/401479333337763840 .
i love to start my day with a large mug of americano and eggs!
I like to start my day with a muffin and juice!
My favorite way to start my day is coffee with a healthy breakfast while listening to music. I often stop at Panera Bread in the mornings to pick up a bagel or pecan roll.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/401540797595525120