Panera

I try to bring my breakfast and lunch to work and pack snacks 95% of the time. However, some days my best laid plans go by the way side. Today I did the Pick 2 from Panera and I got the turkey chili and the Green Goddess salad. The only issue with this meal is the darn Green Goddess salad dressing. Does Panera have any healthier option dressings?

I was able to eat 1/2 a cup of chili and the chicken and avocado off the salad with a few bites of lettuce. Such a waster on the salad. maybe I will just get the chili from now on and skip the salad altogether.

I hate eating out now days...so much money and I can rarely finish anything.

My go to meals at Panera involve order salads without the lettuce part :)

That is a great idea. I always end up eating the toppings and like 2 bites of lettuce. What dressing do you get or just skip it?

I get whatever dressing the salad comes with - I normally go for Caesar, Asian Sesame, or the Thai Chicken. I'll order the dressing on the side and add some, but not the full amount. A full size salad is usually two meals for me. (I.e., I don't really worry about the dressing.)

Liekwise, I usually just get the dressing on the side, where ever I get a salad, and use what I need, editing out as much of the greens to the side as necessary to meet my capacity needs (which isn't much in that first year,) or splitting it in two for use as another meal.

I don't think the Green Goddess dressing is all that bad. Minimal carbs - less carbs and sugar than some of the low-fat options available at Panera. Aside from the Chili Lime Ranch one, it's my go-to!

I guess it was just the calories that I was freaking out about. It says 3T is 120 calories. I really try to keep my calories between 600-800, but I am finding it hard when I add in variety. I've always been able to eat more than 1/4 cup and do experience hunger. For that reason I try to pick the lowest calorie/lowest carb options on everything.

I am not going to be one of those people that can only eat 4 bites at 1 year.

:)

Since I do the salad without the lettuce (and normally without the carby-things: wonton strips/croutons), I definitely don't use 3T of dressing :)

As per the Panera Bread site, 1 1/2 tablespoons (the amount served with a small) is (obviously) only 60. 3 tablespoons is a ton of dressing, even for a huge salad.