Eating Out: Panera Bread

Eating out can be difficult to do when trying to stick to a diet regimen. While many places are trying to incorporate more diet friendly foods into their menus, it can still be tricky sifting through the nutritional information. One of my favorite places to dine out is Panera Bread, whether it be for lunch or dinner, I am always down for a lunch date at Panera. I love Panera's food because it is yummy, but it also fulfills my appetite. Here are a few of my fail-safe menu suggestions that are tasty, satisfying, and more importantly, diet-approved!

1. You Pick Two: Fuji Apple Chicken Salad and French Onion Soup. Total calories = 400-460. *

2. Chicken Tortilla soup with a whole-grain baguette. Total calories = 360.

3. You Pick Two: Smoked Turkey and Garden Vegetable soup. Total calories = 400.

4. Vegetarian Option: Classic Garden Salad and Tomato soup. Total calories = 460.

You can also add the whole grain baguette to your meal for an additional 140 calories per 2 ounce piece.

*1/2 of the Fuji apple chicken salad is 260 calories, but I found that if your Panera uses those little kidney bean shaped plates they tend to run at around 200 calories. I have weighed the salad before and after and it comes out to less than what is considered to be half of the salad. The french onion soup is 200 calories for the you pick two.

For the full list of menu items and their nutritional values visit Panera's website. http://www.panerabread.com/menu/