Panera Bread is everyone’s best friend. Therefore, when you are dieting, you would never want to stop visiting. The good news is that you don’t have to! There are a ton of amazing menu options at Panera for those looking to watch their calories and waistline and slim down. In fact, we spoke with a dietitian who shares the best Panera soup and salad combo for weight loss.
The key to a successful long-term diet is to make the lifestyle changes that work best for you and not deprive yourself of fun foods. Panera Bread has many locations, making it very convenient for a pit stop, and their meals are easy to order and enjoy. Panera is also a great place to meet up with a friend. So let’s jump into the menu and check out some great soups and salads to add to your meal rotation while dieting.
The best Panera menu options for weight loss are Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken and Turkey Chili.
“When it comes to Panera, there are so many great and delicious options to choose from,” says Lena Bakovic, MS, RDN, CNSC, from Top Nutrition Coaching. “Panera has a good selection of salads and soups that are nutrient-dense and contain protein and fiber, two nutrients that contribute to satiety and help prevent overeating throughout the day and evening.”
Bakovic shares his best salad and soup options to order at Panera: Fuji apple salad with chicken And Turkey Chili. She explains that both are great choices for those looking to lose weight or control their weight because they’re packed with nutrients.
“[These meals] are rich in vitamins and minerals, and also contain good amounts of protein and fiber, which help us feel full longer and avoid overeating,” says Bakovic.
Panera’s Fuji Apple Chicken Salad will cost you 550 calories while providing 30 grams of protein and five grams of fiber. On the other hand, turkey chili is filled to the brim with vegetables such as kidney beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, carrots, and edamame. It also has an average protein intake of around 21 grams with its dark meat turkey blend (raised without antibiotics) and will only cost you time. about 300 calories.
Tips when ordering from Panera for weight loss:
1. Look at the calorie count.
It’s super easy to track your calories at Panera because everything is right at your fingertips. Whether you want to see the nutrition facts and calorie counts ahead of time before heading to Panera or decide what you’re craving when you arrive, the process is seamless.
2. Avoid high-fat menu options.
The hard part about visiting Panera is avoiding the decadent pastries and desserts. However, Bakovic emphasizes respecting the ingredients in everything you order.
“Panera’s menu contains several items high in fat, especially saturated fat,” says Bakovic. “Saturated fats can increase LDL cholesterol levels and are not an ideal choice in the context of heart health. Likewise, because fats are calorie dense, menu items high in fat are also high in calories , which can make it more difficult for someone seeking a healthy calorie deficit to achieve sustainable weight loss.
3. Ask for the dressing next to it.
Another tip from Bakovic? Always ask for your dressing next to it. This is a great habit to get into regularly wherever you dine.
“[This can] help reduce the fat and sugar content of a salad,” says Bakovic. “This way, you can control the amount of dressing you add to your salads.”
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Alexa Mellardo
Alexa is the Mind + Body Associate Editor at Eat This, Not That!, overseeing the M+B channel and bringing readers interesting topics on fitness, wellness, and self-care. Learn more about Alexa
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