Trying Out the New Menu Items at Panera Bread

Ah, the new year! A time to start out fresh and renew those vows to eat better, be more active, and improve myself overall. Luckily, it’s also the time when businesses offer lots of healthy options to aid me in my quest. Recently, I was contacted by Panera Bread to try out their new menu items and, of course, I agreed. I was already a fan and I was eager to try their new healthy options.

So one day I took my lunch break and headed over to the nearest Panera Bread. Three items struck me as the most intriguing – the Power Chicken Hummus Bowl, the All Natural Turkey Chili, and the Low Fat B-Green Power Smoothie. Naturally, I ordered all three.

Now, I love me some greens so I wasn’t really intimidated by the color of the smoothie. And there’s really no reason to be because it’s delicious. A combination of fruit and vegetable juices plus one whole banana makes it a sure way to get your daily requirements in and it’s the perfect accompaniment to the Power Chicken Hummus Bowl.

Oh, the Power Chicken Hummus Bowl. I think…no…I know this is my new favorite menu item. A bed of spinach topped with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, chicken and hummus – it is fantastically delicious. And just think about the nutrients!

Once I finished my power bowl and part of my smoothie I knew I couldn’t go any further. I was just too full. But there was the power All Natural Turkey Chili. What was I to do?

Why save it for dinner, of course! I grabbed a to go container and reheated it that night. Yum! And check out these ingredients: turkey, garbanzo, kidney beans, tomatillos, corn, pasilla negro and ancho chili powders, cumin, edamame, diced onions, carrots, garlic and green chilies. That’s alotta ingredients!

These new menu items make me very happy. Thanks to them I’m fast on the road to a healthier me!