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)
My favorite soup, Baked Potato Soup. My favorite sandwich, Chicken Salad.
My tweet! https://twitter.com/bbjmsweeps/status/409357864696688640
My tweet! https://twitter.com/bbjmsweeps/status/409357864696688640
My tweet! https://twitter.com/bbjmsweeps/status/409357864696688640
My favorite way to start the day is with some good coffee and greek yogurt with fresh fruit and granola.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/shanifer3/status/409376197517139968
My morning consists of a strong cup of coffee with a ton of French vanilla flavoring along with a wheat waffle with strawberry jam, it's quick and efficient
My favorite way to start the day is having breakfast with my husband thanks
My favorite way to start the day is with a morning walk to get me going. Then home to oatmeal topped with blueberries.
I love to start the day with a cup of iced coffee and pancakes with veggie sausage.
The only way to start my day is the first of several pots of coffee.
my favorite way to start the day is playtime with my daughter.
a buttered bagel and coffee
https://twitter.com/madamerkf/status/409483577647050753
My favorite way to start the day is a cheese bagel from Panera!
I like to start the day with some pastries.
We just got a new Panera in my neighborhood and I am soooo happy! I love to start a day full of busy errands with a trip through the drive thru and a Sausage egg and Cheese sandwich on whole grain bread. I'll add a latte - esp the Caramel one and also an iced tea - really good tea at Panera. We are delighted to have a healthier eating choice close by now.
I tweeted about this promotion
https://twitter.com/jcoylea/status/409505172872650752
I love fresh eggs and turkey bacon on whole wheat toast with milk for breakfast.Thanks!
lstanziani(at)yahoo(dot)com
with a cup of coffee
I love breakfast sandwiches with egg and canadian bacon on english muffins!
I love to start the day off with a cup of tea while sitting on the porch reading the paper
My favorite way to start the day is with a bagel, cream cheese and coffee!
My favorite way to start the day is with a bagel, cream cheese and coffee!
With coffee. I cannot, will not live without it!!
https://twitter.com/mya98604/status/409586719139196928
My fave way to start the day is waking up next to my daughter, cuddling for a bit before I start the coffee and making her pancakes.
I love starting my day with a nice cup of coffee :)
My favorite way to start the day is with a cup of black coffee. I love, love, love the Four cheese souffle at Panera - my favorite breakfast item!
I love it when my husband makes me pancakes. Thank you
Most mornings I start with an Onion Mini Bagel and cream cheese with Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate or a juice.
The best way to start the day is with coffee and a kiss!
I tweeted https://twitter.com/2BeFitBy50/status/409715867501342720
I love starting the day with a huge cup of coffee
pokergrl8 at gmail.com
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/409750278754160640
My favorite way to start the day is getting a kiss from my daughter.
My favorite way to start the day is with a warm bowl of oatmeal.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/409764931416780800
My favorite way to start the day is with a warm bowl of oatmeal.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/409772353158017024
I like to start the day with coffee and a bagel.
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/409785770287714304
My favorite way to start the day is with a hot shower, a hot cup of coffee and a hot breakfast.
My favorite way to start the day is with coffee, lots of coffee!
Tweet - https://twitter.com/mom2boys51/status/409799523339206656
Caffeine-lots of it. I also adore the Cinnamon Crunch Bagels, but I strangly love them with Panera's vegetable cream cheese. Gosh, I want one now!
my favorite way to start the day is with french toast and hot coffee
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/LyndeisLucky/status/409811246980952064
I sometimes like to start it with a bowl of cream of wheat and orange juice
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/409816346403147776
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com