This is a sponsored post for Panera Bread and though I was compensated for my time, all opinions are my own.
It is not often that I get a day to lunch with my friends and family. Usually we are so busy with the kids that we do not have time to sit and have lunch together. During the summer I love taking walks and chatting. There’s nothing quite like playing catch up, laughing and listening to stories as you are walking or hiking – it’s almost like you are not exercising at all!
I love to eat healthy, especially when the hot weather comes. There is nothing like a crisp, light salad after exercising. Panera offers healthy, light options that you don’t have to make yourself! Our favorite Panera dishes fit in perfectly, thanks to their fresh menu options and delicious healthy choices that I can feel good about eating.
We live in the middle of the woods, not near a lot of stores or restaurants, but we do have a Panera location a little over a half hour away. So we decided to order for pick up and eat at home after we went for our walk. I ordered our lunch online and it was ready at Panera when I got there. Online ordering made pick up so easy and it was packaged perfectly for us. We felt like “ladies who lunch” – what a great day!
So what did we have after our walk you ask? I had one of my favorites –
Greek Salad with Chicken. With its mix of lettuce, tomato, onion, Greek olives and chicken, it was a satisfying and delicious meal. The dressing that is on this salad is so light and zesty. Yum!
Another choice we dined on was the Chicken Caesar Salad, a delicious selection with romaine lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan cheese with a creamy Caesar dressing. Oh my – this was a favorite!
If you are looking for a little spice to your salad, try the Thai Chicken Salad. A tasty blend of Thai cashews, fire-roasted edamame, red peppers, carrots, fresh cilantro and crispy wonton strips all served over a bed of fresh romaine lettuce and a Thai chili vinaigrette. This is a must have! The best part of these salads is that they are all under 500 calories so you do not have to feel guilty for having a delicious meal.
We had a really great day catching up, exercising and eating delicious and good-for-you food. We felt pampered and relaxed and let Panera do all the work for us. They have so many other varieties of salads that you should give a try as well. From the Strawberry Poppyseed & Chicken Salad to the BBQ Chicken Salad, there is a choice for everyone.
So join me this summer and enjoy a tasty and healthy treat from Panera!