Panera Bread made waves when it first appeared on the scene with a wide array of menu options that were fast, yet abundantly healthy. Compared to the alternatives at many chain fast-food restaurants and bar and grills, Panera Bread found a happy medium. Not only were their sandwiches and soups customizable by sizing (i.e. ordering a full sandwich vs. a half) but their ingredient list was impressive as well. Wholesome and nutritious items helped to sell Panera as a household name and soon enough, it became the perfect lunch spot and, eventually, the perfect place for families to find a healthier dinner option.

Over the years, the menu at Panera Bread has changed but its mission has always remained the same: To offer good, healthy options that appeal to a variety of people across the board, regardless of lifestyle or dietary restrictions. While Panera is still slaying the game, many often wonder what the healthiest options are and if much of the menu truly is as healthy as it claims to be. While there are some foods that tip the scales in favor of more calories rather than less, there are plenty of healthy choices... starting with these.

For Breakfast

Panera Bread offers breakfast items along with their traditional lunch and dinner items, but that doesn't mean they're all as healthy as the next. Starting off the day right means eating something that's full of fuel without making up for it with excess sugar, and there are some things at Panera that are far better choices than others. A great way to start out a Panera morning is with their Mediterranean Egg White Wrap. For starters, egg whites are a healthier option than whole eggs, and the addition of spinach, white bean puree, and basil all bring along their own nutritional value. Swapping out two pieces of bread for a wrap is another big benefit to this breakfast option, as carbohydrates are cut down but not scant.

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Oatmeal is already a great breakfast option and it's full of fiber. Panera's oatmeal with almonds and quinoa doubles that protein and fiber to create a dish that's wholesome, full of whole grains, and less than 350 calories, which is a great range for breakfast food to be in. Of course, any extra additives will drive the calories up and could detract from the overall 'health' aspect of the dish, but it's a great place to start, regardless.

For Lunch

When it comes to soup, Panera Bread is wholly known for their incredibly homestyle options. In order to keep on the healthier side of things, anything with a heavy, creamy base should probably be avoided. That leaves the thinner, vegetable and protein-based soups, such as the Turkey Chili. Not only does this chili clock in with a low-calorie count, but it has plenty of lean, healthy protein from the turkey along with a healthy mix of vegetables that make it more than an attractive option for those looking to get an uber-healthy lunch with a tasty flavor profile.

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In terms of salad, which is another healthy option, in general, from Panera, there's one that stands out from the rest, according to Open Fit: the green goddess cobb salad with chicken. Arugula, romaine, and kale make this salad incredibly heavy on the fiber and add plenty of supergreen antioxidants, while the chicken provides a healthy dose of protein. The dressing and addition of bacon are the least healthy things about this salad, but that's up to the diner to decide if they want to hang onto them or swap them out. Overall, this salad is filling enough on its own to make a complete meal and plenty makes up for the serving size of bacon with all of its healthier components.

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Finally, the sandwich. There are two sandwiches that are pretty evenly matched in terms of calorie count and they're the steak and arugula sandwich and the turkey sandwich. The first has only 240 calories while the second has 270, but offers more protein. The steak and arugula sandwich contains grass-fed steak that's seared before being paired with arugula and herbed cream cheese spread. It's delicious and healthy. The turkey sandwich brings with it 18 grams of protein thanks to the lean turkey which is oven-roasted, and an addition of fresh tomatoes, mixed greens, and red onion adds some fresh veggie fiber to the mix. The whole-grain bread is healthy in itself with plenty of fiber, and a spread of mayo and spicy mustard isn't as unhealthy as many other sandwich spreads.

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