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 of course!
Coffee and not having to go to work ;P
I like to start my day with a cup of tea and something warm to eat.
I like having a few cups of tea, before everyone else wakes up. I usually relax and sip on my tea and go through my emails. A little quite time before starting the day.
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/408213027452747777
Thanks again.
My favorite way to start the day is with a wake up shower.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/suebaby05/status/408243880971091968
A fresh cup of hot coffee and a cinnamon chip scone!
My favorite way to start the day is with a cup of coffee and a good book.
I love to have their coffee and every time I go, I will have a different bagel with it
Love to start my day with Panera bagel and some fresh fruit, my email is tracietrump40@gmail.com
Their salads are pretty gosh darn yummy.
My favorite way to start the day is with a hug and a kiss from my hubby and coffee. thank you!
i like to sleep in in the morning and get a slow start to the day
My favorite way to start the day is to sit with a cup of hot cocoa since I don't drink coffee.
I like coffee in the morning...no sugar.
My favorite way to start the day is slowly! Followed by a quiet cup of coffee and a purr from my cat. Then maybe oatmeal or huevos rancheros.
I love having a cup of coffee and checking my email
I like to start the day with a smoothie - thank you.
Tweet @JalapenoMama
https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/408430564275159040
I'm not really a breakfast person, so my 1st meal of the day is often Panera....for soup.
My favorite way to start the day is a bagel and a big cup of coffee! :)
sellcrystal2 at gmail dot com
I like to start the day with a bagel and orange juice.
My favorite way to start the day is with a banana, juice and a morning walk.
I love your adventure at Panera. can't wait to go there. my favorite way to start the day is enjoy a cup of coffee quietly, then wake my kiddos to have a yummy breakfast together. can't wait to take them to Panera for breakfast.
amy [at] utry [dot] it
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/408492671586430976
amy [at] utry [dot] it
My favorite way to start the day is with some hot tea and a high fiber breakfast.
I like to sit in the hot tub and read the newspaper before everyone gets up.
My favorite way to start my day is with a great cup of coffee and a breakfast like oatmeal, fruit or a fresh bagel. Thanks
My favorite way to start the day is with a hug from my kids and a cup of coffee!
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/408789591211012096
i start my day with coffeee
https://twitter.com/jtwark/status/408895510192214016
1000% fav way to start my day is with my hubby. I love waking up a bit before him, while he is still sleeping, and watching him in his peacefulness. He works so hard for our family and is often stressed out, so I enjoy seeing him like this each day before he wakes. Hope that doesn't sound creepy! LOL
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/408972507916427264
Coffee and if I have time a fresh muffin but always have my coffee first thing
https://twitter.com/eaglesforjack/status/409053624514273280
I start my day with eggs!
tweeted https://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/409148310935437313
I like to have a cup of coffee and a bagel
Getting out of bed and be greeted by my puppy.
https://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/409156800416452608
i love to ice coffee
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/409163498208243712
I like to start the day with a cup of coffee and a blueberry bagel.
I like to start my day with a banana and a b-12 shot.
I like starting my day quietly with my coffee and checking my email.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/409270791096639488
My favorite soup, Baked Potato Soup. My favorite sandwich, Chicken Salad.
My favorite soup, Baked Potato Soup. My favorite sandwich, Chicken Salad.