8 Things You Shouldn’t Order at Panera

If you’re like me, then you enjoy stopping by Panera every once in a while for soup and a sandwich. It’s a great restaurant. They have many options, and the staff is always super friendly. However, you must be cautious when placing your order at Panera. Just like at many other “fast food” restaurants, not everything is as healthy as it sounds.

For instance, you should be cautious when ordering some of the sandwiches because the ingredients can include a lot of carbs and calories. Even some of the innocent items, like the hot chocolate, can be bad for your health if you drink it too often. We’ll tell you about some items you should think twice about. With that said, there are also many delicious menu items at Panera, like the turkey chili and several of the salads. Consider this list the next time you go to Panera so you can order with confidence.

You Should NOT Order the Toasted Italiano on Baguette

First on the list of items you shouldn’t order at Panera is the toasted Italiano on baguette. It’s one of the newer options on the menu, and unfortunately, it’s not any healthier than most of the other items on this list. One of the issues is that the sandwich has processed meats that have questionable ingredients. That’s why many processed meats have led to ailments like stomach cancer. There’s also the bread, which is not healthy in large doses. Altogether, the sandwich has 1,280 calories, so eat it sparingly.

You Should NOT Order the Brioche Roll

When choosing bread for your sandwich, try to avoid choosing a brioche roll. The issue is that it’s generally unhealthy. Look at the numbers. The brioche roll has 6 grams of sugar, 300mg of sodium, 210 calories, and 7 grams of fat. When you add the other ingredients to your sandwich, you’ll have a pretty unhealthy meal. If you want to find a low-fat option, choose the white whole-grain loaf. It’s very tasty, and it only has 130 calories, 1 gram of fat, and two grams of sugar. Just be careful of what you put in the sandwich.

You Should NOT Order the Baked Potato Soup

Many of the best menu items at Panera are the various soups. However, you should be careful when you place your order. The soup to avoid is the baked potato soup, especially if it’s served in a bread bowl. The nutrition facts speak for themselves. This soup has 6 grams of sugar, 152g of carbohydrate, and a whopping 2,110mg of sodium, which is close to your daily limit. If you want to pair your sandwich with a healthy soup, go for a cup (not a bowl) of ten vegetable soup. It has only 60 calories, 730mg sodium, and 10g carbohydrate.

You Should NOT Order the Broccoli Cheddar Mac & Cheese (Bread Bowl)

Another item you should not order at Panera is the broccoli cheddar mac & cheese in a bread bowl. There are a couple of different mac & cheese options. The mac and cheese for kids is okay but it’s also a smaller serving size. The adult dish with broccoli is loaded with unhealthy attributes. It has 1,050 calories, 8g sugar, 2,290mg sodium, and 31g fat. That’s a lot of fat, and it’s only one meal. If you’re eating more than that in a day, then you’ll be dangerously close to going over the limit.

You Should NOT Order the Signature Hot Chocolate

If you visit Panera Bread on a cold day, you may be tempted to order their signature hot chocolate. However, that’s probably not the best idea if you’re looking after your health. Without any whipped cream, the hot chocolate will have 7g saturated fat, 430 calories, 66g carbohydrate, 200mg sodium, and 50g sugar. Instead, consider a cup of black coffee without sugar. Also, be careful of espresso drinks, which can contain more calories than a full meal at the restaurant.

You Should NOT Order a Bagel

Unless it’s a completely plain bagel and you avoid cream cheese, you should try to avoid the bagels in general if you’re trying to lose weight. Typically, the bagels will have between 290 and 390 calories, which is a lot, especially if you’re pairing your bagel with another breakfast item. One of the most dangerous is the Cinnamon Crunch Bagel, which has 420 calories, 7 grams of fat, and 80 grams of carbs. And that is before you add cream cheese or anything else.

You Should NOT Order the Flatbread Pizza

Finally, on the list of items you should not order at Panera, we have to include the flatbread pizza. There are different options, but even if you go with the healthiest version, the Margherita flatbread, you’ll still be getting a lot of calories. Essentially, eating one is the same as eating six slices of bread, which is also not healthy. The sodium in the flatbread pizza options alone is almost the maximum you should have in an entire day.

Instead, Order the Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup

While we have some picks for items you shouldn’t order, trust us when we say that Panera is actually a good restaurant. There are some items you should absolutely order, including the homestyle chicken noodle soup. If you want to be healthy when you order a soup, go for a broth-based option. This soup has only 150 calories, 17 grams of carbs, and it has 14 grams of protein.

Instead, Order the Green Goddess Chicken Cobb Salad

One of the healthiest items on the entire Panera menu is the green goddess chicken cobb salad. It’s great because it’s loaded with fresh greens and grilled chicken that will fill you up without making you feel stuffed. There are also hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, and avocados that provide a festival of flavors with every bite. Many of these elements provide the healthy fats that your body needs to thrive.

Instead, Order the Turkey Chili

Finally, you can’t go wrong with a good bowl of turkey chili, and the option at Panera is no exception. This chili is made with the finest ingredients, including beans, lean ground turkey, and tomatoes. It’s made even more delicious due to a great blend of spices. You could eat this regularly and be in good shape.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Courtesy of Ardie S. via Yelp.