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)
Coffee, obviously. :)
I love starting the day with blueberry-flavored coffee!
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/401771177724502017
Panera breakfasts are such a nice treat! My favorite way to start the day is with good coffee and on the weekends some yoga!
tweeted!
https://twitter.com/methhamfetabean/status/401802087018672128
My favorite way to start to day is with peppermint hot tea and watching my favorite spiritual show on t.v
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/401836938253975552
Oh god, the love affair I have with Panera knows no bounds. The guys behind the counter know my name. and I know theirs (shut up I know it's on my card/on their aprons, we're friends now). I spend way too much time there. That said, my favorite way to start the day is to roll over and snuggle up with my bf and pretend like one of us doesn't have to get up at the buttcrack of dawn.
I start my day by snuggling my baby girl and having coffee
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/smash906/status/402268443128242177
I like to start my day with a cup of hot coffee, blueberry bagels and Greek yogurt.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/402280158561697792
Tweet: https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/402555510160764928
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
I love snuggling with my son. What better way to start the day then sitting together reading stories?
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
My favorite way to start the day is with a long workout with friends, followed by a smoothie and a veggie-filled egg white omelet.
A protein-filled breakfast!
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/purplelanzi/status/402178084800966656
my favorite way to start the day is when my cat wakes me up with just enough time before my alarm to get a solid cuddle in. (except this morning, she was too busy sleeping under the living room heater and lost track of time)
Hot tea and granola on an average day. But my favorite way......a Pittsburgh cream donut!
My favorite way to start the day is a kiss from my husband when he's leaving for work and a cup of coffee!
https://twitter.com/myfolly/status/403042630218444800
Favorite way to start my day, is with a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal.
My favorite way to start the day is a nice cup of coffee with a pastry!!!! thanks for a chance to win! kmassman gmail
Love starting my day with a latte and some sort of pastry - banana bread, bagel, or toast with lots of butter are my fav!
my fave way to start the day is with a hot cup of coffee
a hot coffee and listen to the music
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/403368835807334400
I like to have a banana to start my day. Then a full breakfast an hour or or so later. I don't do coffee but if caffeine is necessary for the day my go to is a Diet Coke!
Starting the day with coffee, a laughing baby, and a happy 3 year old would be perfect.
chambanachik at gmail dot com
Usually start my day with oatmeal... Super quick and keeps me going for hours.
I start my day with a cup of coffee and either a bowl of LIFE cereal (my fave) or english muffins with pb on them!
tweeted https://twitter.com/pittsy82/status/405421000482754560
I love to start my day with a mug of coffee and a cozy robe.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
tweet--https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/406768423390031872
i love to start the morning with some english breakfast tea
i posted a tweet:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/406827521154359296
I like to start my day with a big cup of coffee.
vanilla latte, egg white with turkey, cheese, spinach and pepper, and a snuggle from my little boy!
tvollowitz at aol dot com
The egg souffles complete me. Also, they have the best chai lattes, hands down.
Also of note: Ohio for the win!
I tweeted!
Check out @tabulous's Tweet: https://twitter.com/tabulous/status/408045311987552256
cup of coffee works
Must have breakfast (closely followed by a hot cup of coffee). I love breakfast, I don't know how anyone just skips it. And that cinnamon crunch bagel - oh I love it with the honey walnut (when I can get it).
Coffee. Lots of coffee.
Tweet URL
https://twitter.com/krissy314/status/408047227865554944
My favorite way to start the day is with a walk with my dog!
I start the day with a coffee and a bagel with cream cheese
I start my day with New England blend single serve coffee ... made at home. It if is cold like now, there is nothing like warm oatmeal to start my day. When it is warmer weather, I just savor the coffee and then have a bagel later on with my second travel mug of coffee. I am a great fan of Panera's for lunch - Love their French Onion Soup paired with various half sandwiches. Excellent variety and the nutrition info is helpful to keep us from going off the rails.
https://twitter.com/bettycd/status/408064652967292929
tweeted
have some pancakes
Hot tea and toast.