I decided to add a new page to the blog’s headline.
Introducing: “Dining Out”
I love eating out and trying new foods. I also love that it’s completely possible to eat well at many restaurants, with new menu items popping up all.of.the.time. From chain restaurants to the small ma and pa cafe’s, I thought it would be fun to include some of the healthy options/requests/orders that are available out there.
Today, I stopped in at Panera Bread, which is one of my favorite places to eat when I’m out and about.
U-Pick-2 Option: Black Bean Soup. Classic Salad. Whole Grain Baguette (that’s a special request, as the order will automatically deliver a white baguette unless you ask.)
It’s delicious. Filling. Soul satisfying.
I only wish I knew what the secret was to their black bean soup (there’s cumin, red onions and black beans in there, and that is all I know!)
When I’m dining out, I like to include some protein (i.e., black bean soup), vegetables (i.e., salad) and a whole grain if possible (i.e., whole grain baguette.) These three combined, along with a little fat (i.e., fat used in making soup and/or salad dressing) keeps me deliciously full for hours.
It also gives me plenty of energy to shop, shop, shop. Which is exactly what I did all day. 
QUESTION: What is your favorite “chain restaurant”? I’m a big fan of Panera and the Cheesecake Factory.
Um, you and I get the EXACT same thing at Panera. No lie.
I adore that place. Their bagels are bomb.
Brilliant minds think alike.
And I am obsessed with their bagels!
Count me in on the same order at Panera too–I ALWAYS order the same thing
Love that black bean soup!
I recently discovered Pita Pit too, and I love it–they make a good black bean burger. Hm. I guess I just really like black beans.
I’ve heard of Pita Pit, but I’ve never gone! I’ll have to see if there’s one in my neck of the woods.
panera is the best! i love their healthy options
They really do have so many options!
One of my favorite places is a Greek chain called Zoe’s. I can get a power protein plate, veggie roll ups and braised white beans which make me giggle they are so good.
Love the new page!
There’s a Zoe’s not too far from me I think! I’ll have to check it out.
I’m in love with Panera’s BBQ Chicken Salad!!
(And I also have a guilty pleasure there — their broccoli cheddar soup). Ha, ha.
*Sigh.* So yummy! Although I like your version of the soup even better!!
Gotta love Panera! I haven’t had the black bean soup, but by the looks of it, maybe I should. I also love Chipotle for their healthy eating options. (At least in Seattle) they serve brown rice and try to buy locally. Plus I can’t seem to go wrong with anything Mexican-y.
I’ve heard really good things about Chipotle! I’ll have to check it out.
If we’re talking fast food, I like subway or tim horton’s. We don’t have Panera here, so that’s not an option.
I like subway for fast food too! And I’m still mad that I didn’t try Tim Horton’s when I was up in Canada.
I love love love Panera. My absolute favorite fast non-fast-food place. The only thing I don’t like is that some of their soups that you’d assume to be vegetarian really are not. Disappointing!
I know! It seems that it would be so easy to make more of them vegetarian based, so that they could suit a wider audience of people.
Clearly we need to run the place
There are ‘V”s next to the vegetarian soups. The black bean is meat & dairy free. The garden vegetable is meat free but the pesto has dairy. The creamy tomato is meat free.
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