Sunday, January 30, 2011

Shape Up Series: Taste Testing Panera Bread's Low Fat Smoothies

By: Finance Foodie

This past week, my willpower was tested harder than an engineer at MIT. And unfortunately, I failed with flying colors. ARGH!! From greasy sandwiches to Italian dessert trays that turned up everyday in the kitchen at work, my willpower could not resist but to indulge! Alas, I paid dearly, for led to a STEP BACK on my goal weight loss. Let's go to my (sad) recap....

Week 5
Height: 5'1''
Goal Weight: 130lbs
Week 1: 140lbs (Starting Point)
Week 2: 138lbs
Week 3: 137lbs
Week 4: 136lbs
Week 5: 137lbs (HORRORS!!)
Goal Body Fat: 20.0%
Week 1: 25.0%
Week 2: 24.0%
Week 3: 24.0%
Week 4: 23.5%
Week 5: 24.2% (DOUBLE HORRORS!)

(I'm going to skip the usual exercise plan because my a** didn't step foot in the gym :p)

Besides blaming the snowy mess of a weather that plagued Boston this week (which further deterred my interest in leaving my apartment to go gym-ing), I blame myself. With my Type-A, perfectionist, get-it-done personality, I don't know how I slipped up so badly. How did I manage 2 years of working 100 hour weeks, but can't muster enough resistance to eating a second key lime pie tart??? What a disappointment!

BUT, although I hate losing (well, technically gaining in this case), I am also more motivated than ever to do better this upcoming week. So for this week's tip, I'm going to share with you the one good-for-you item I ate: the Panera Bread Low Fat Smoothie!
As you all may know of my love of morning smoothies, I actually had two of these babies this week. Since I didn't get the chance to hit up Shaw's for my berries, I settled for the next best thing -- Panera's Wild Berry Smoothie! Made with a wildberry fruit base, blueberry and raspberry juices, and vanilla yogurt from the perennially-tanned Gary Hirshberg's Stonyfield Farm, the Wild Berry smoothie only has 300 calories and does not contain high fructose syrup. Rich, creamy, and clean tasting -- I totally felt satisfied after drinking one in the morning. (Now if only the dessert tray didn't show up in the afternoons!). The Wild Berry is the new kid on the block, joining Panera's other smoothie flavors of Strawberry, Black Cherry, and (my former favorite) Mango.
With a little more smoothie in my life (and a little less cannoli) -- hopefully this week will be back on track!

***Giveaway***
Congrats #103 - Lisa Blessed by God

Since my Panera Bread gift card giveaway was sooo popular last time, Panera is going to give another reader a $25 gift card to try this smoothie or their other new menu items (i.e. Thai Chicken Salad, Trail Mix Bagel).
There are THREE ways to enter 
1. REQUIRED: In my comments section, tell me what is your favorite smoothie flavor ? (Mine is my homemade Raspberry Cinnamon Buns of Steel smoothie, but Panera's Wild Berry is a close second!). Also please include your email address so I can contact you if you win!
2. Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter (leave separate comment telling me this)
3. Reblog / Retweet this giveaway (leave separate comment telling me this)

Contest ends Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 5pm EST. Winners will be chosen via random integer generator on random.org announced on the financefoodie.com site shortly afterwards that night! 

Disclosure: Panera provided me with the gift card for the giveaway. I've been a long time fan/customer of Panera and I paid for the smoothies I drank myself.

282 comments:

1 – 200 of 282   Newer›   Newest»
Lara @ GoodCookDoris said...

Those sound fantastic! My all-time favorite smoothie is strawberry-banana. Sometimes with a little honey mixed in too.

Unknown said...

I like the Low-fat Strawberry smoothie.

carcon said...

I like the Wild Berry smoothie

Jolene said...

strawberry banana is my favorite

Thao said...

My favorite smoothie flavor would have to be wild berries with just a hint more of raspberries

lovetolire at gmail dot com

Thao said...

following you on twitter via lovingvmars

lovetolire at gmail dot com

Thao said...

tweeted this giveaway via lovingvmars

http://twitter.com/#!/LovingVmars/status/31761315504586752

lovetolire at gmail dot com

ky2here said...

Strawberry banana ginger lemon is my favorite smoothie.

ky2here at msn dot com

Unknown said...

The raspberry does sound amazing..so yes, raspberry cinnamon buns..yum
new subscriber

madforfashion at aol.com

ky2here said...

Here's a tweet (if I did it correctly): http://twitter.com/#!/ky2here1/status/31774698522025984

ky2here at msn dot com

Unknown said...

I follow you on twitter

zoehunter

mar said...

Black Cherry is my favorite Smoothie flavor!

LWons@HotMail.com

Amber said...

Strawberry Kiwi is my favorite smoothie flavor!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Amber said...

I follow you @financefoodie1 on Twitter - I'm @AmberGoo
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

stormvikki said...

We atr at Panera yesterday, wild berry is my gave in addition to their tomato soup

PAIGE said...

I love Strawberry smoothies.
elysesw@aol.com

Stephanie said...

my favorite flavor is hummingbird - which is guava juice, mangos, strawberries, bananas, orange sherbert and ice -- so good! We also make a lot of strawberry, banana with vanilla yogurt and apple juice at home.
tvollowitz at aol dot com

5webs said...

My favorite smoothie flavor is raspberry-banana-pineapple.
Alicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net

wencdj said...

I'm going to go with the Wild Berry Smoothie. Blueberries and Black Raspberries. Cant miss with that combo
cwgovina@mail.com

wencdj said...

Tweeted the sweepstakes news, though I am the winner http://twitter.com/#!/wencdj/status/31799783496622080

wencdj said...

Also following Finance Foodie (financefoodie1) on Twitter

peg42 said...

The Low-fat Mango Smoothie is my favorite.
Thanks so much.
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

peg42 said...

I'm a twitter follower (peg42)
Thanks again
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

Sylvo said...

Wild Berry smoothie, for sure!

melsywsou said...

Low-fat Mango Smoothie

Anonymous said...

I've never tried one of their smoothies, but I bet I'd enjoy the strawberry smoothie the best.

katfam95 at aim dot com

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

like any smoothie with fresh fruit and greek yogurt- blueberry s yummy

mrs.mommyyatgmail

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

FOLLOW ON TWITTER mrs.mommyyatgmail

lkvoyer said...

Thanks so much for sponsoring this giveaway, I love Panera! My favorite smoothie flavor is the strawberry. LKVOYER at aol dot com

gcomstock said...

At Panera I chose the wild berry, but they're all a little too sweet for me:

My favorite smoothie is-
Homemade almond milk (large handfull of almonds - I like toasted- in 3/4 blender full of water, blend till smooth, don't bother straining)
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup yogurt (plain or otherwise)
1 scoop of vanilla whey protein
1 tbs of brewers yeast

gcomstock said...

I tweeted this giveaway here:
http://twitter.com/georgecomstock/status/31842137997836288

nhmoose99 said...

Wild Berry is my favorite.

nhmoose99 at yahoo dot com

abfantom said...

I like Panera's Low-fat Strawberry Smoothie.

abfantom at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I love strawberry banana smoothies! jazijazi5959@gmail.com

Mysharona said...

I love Blueberry smoothies.

Ashley said...

I love making raspberry and blueberry smoothies! So yummy!

ag29ande at gmail.com

Jo said...

I love panera's wild berry smoothie.

Suburban prep said...

I like a pomegranate mango smoothie. (I have to stay away with anything with strawberries --I am allergic).
msgb245 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I love Strawberry!

Unknown said...

Following on twitter @annedoggett

Anonymous said...

Strawberry smoothie :)

Thanks for sponsoring the contest !

reallycool3108 at yahoo dot com

ms-texas said...

I'd like the low-fat strawberry smoothie!

debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com

ms-texas said...

I Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter
@bellows22

debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com

ms-texas said...

i tweeted

http://twitter.com/bellows22/status/31909201575936000

debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com

Nance Meyer said...

My favorite smoothie flavor is anything that's mainly strawberry!

nancymeyer1 at gmail dot com

sohamolina said...

I like Raspberry smoothie.

sohamolina said...

I am @sohamolina twitter follower---eddiem11@ca.rr.com

babytrees said...

I love Mango Smoothies

theresa _ heppner at yahoo dot com

SB said...

My favorite is definitely mango! Haven't tried the wild berry one yet, but I plan on it. I'm trying to lose weight before June (My best friend is getting married, I'm a bridesmaid!) I need to fit in the dress I bought in November and um, the holidays really caused some trouble for me. Best of luck to you!! Panera rules! Thanks for the opportunity.

ag1rlbrushedblue at yahoo dot com

SB said...

I also follow you on Twitter :)

Katie said...

My favorite smoothie has strawberries and raspberries.
katiekarr at gmail dot com

TRUN said...

Strawberry/Banana is my favorite flavor

Kim said...

I like the mango smoothie. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Am I in the right place?
I like any kind of Smoothie with Pomegranate in it!
digicat {AT} sbcglobal {DOT} net

Anonymous said...

I follow you on Twitter @cezovski
digicat {AT} sbcglobal {DOT} net

nicole said...

Wild berry, definitely. Yum!

nicole said...

Wild Berry, definitely. Yum!

Anonymous said...

I like strawberry banana smoothies.

rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Follow you on Twitter; rhoneygee

rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

nicole said...

I posted before, but I don't see it... so...I like wild berry the best. nicolesweeps@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

i make an amazing almond milk, banana, date, and cacao nib smoothie. tastes like chocolate-banana goodness. from panera i like the strawberry one. sooo good!

ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

twitter follower @xferriza2

ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com

sweepmom said...

I like blueberry smoothies.

Anonymous said...

HORTON111@AOL.COM

I LIKE THE MANGO SMOOTHIE

Anonymous said...

Black Cherry Smoothie.

Anonymous said...

FOLLOW Finance Foodie on Twitter.
ID wheelerclan

stracey2010 said...

i like strawberry banana smoothies
stracey2010@live.com

Goss Family said...

We love making strawberry banana smoothies in the morning. Great breakfast when you are heading out the door, yum!

Unknown said...

My favorite flavor comes from a smoothie place I believe was called Tropical...SOMETHING. Not Tropical Smoothie, though. Some off-brand Tropical Something-Or-Other type of place in a mall in Massachusetts. The name of the flavor combo that I created there was Banananilla Mango. Obviously infused with flavors of banana, mango, and vanilla ice cream. Ugh, it was delicious beyond recognition.

Anonymous said...

My favorite flavor comes from a smoothie place I believe was called Tropical...SOMETHING. Not Tropical Smoothie, though. Some off-brand Tropical Something-Or-Other type of place in a mall in Massachusetts. The name of the flavor combo that I created there was Banananilla Mango. Obviously infused with flavors of banana, mango, and vanilla ice cream. Ugh, it was delicious beyond recognition.

Anonymous said...

My favorite flavor comes from a smoothie place I believe was called Tropical...SOMETHING. Not Tropical Smoothie, though. Some off-brand Tropical Something-Or-Other type of place in a mall in Massachusetts. The name of the flavor combo that I created there was Banananilla Mango. Obviously infused with flavors of banana, mango, and vanilla ice cream. Ugh, it was delicious beyond recognition.

sksweeps said...

My favorite smoothie is my homemade, peak of summer smoothie - with fruits from my yard like blackberries, grapes, apricots,...

sksweeps (at) earthlink (dot) net

mlswin@triad.rr.com said...

banana

buzzd said...

I love berries so I would say wild berry

Jenn S. said...

My favorite smoothis flavor is homemade pumpkin. Yum!

jas8929 at gmail dot com

Jenn S. said...

Following FFF on twitter: jashelep

jas8929 at gmail dot com

marthajane said...

My favorite smoothie flavor overall is blackberry. The new wild berry at Panera sounds great! Would love to try it.

Anonymous said...

My fave is peach banana with splenda! So yum.

hebert024 at aol dot com

Nancy said...

Any smoothie with raspberry in it is a favorite of mine.

Nancy said...

My tweet: http://twitter.com/njhhb/statuses/32147154281693184

kyl neusch said...

Wild Berry is my favorite

kyl neusch said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter: bleush

Unknown said...

i like strawberry banana

Jillian V said...

I love strawberry banana smoothies

JillianVeit@gmail.com

marcia goss said...

My favorite smoothie flavor is strawberry banana.
marcia.goss@gmail.com

marcia goss said...

Tweet.
http://twitter.com/#!/mgoss123/status/32193593984679936
marcia.goss@gmail.com

AubreyLaine said...

My favorite is Strawberry banana :)
aubreyfick@yahoo.com

AubreyLaine said...

I am a Twitter follower :)
aubreyfick@yahoo.com

terri142 said...

My favorite smoothie is the Low-fat Black Cherry Smoothie.

tderosa142 at gmail dot com

terri142 said...

I follow Finance Foodie on twitter.(terri142)

tderosa142 at gmail dot com

Ames said...

I do love their wild berry smoothie as well :)

caroltennis said...

the mango smoothie is my favorite


carolmuth at insightbb dot com

caroltennis said...

following on twitter as caroltennis

carolmuth at insightbb dot com

Mamushi Love said...

I like the White Gummy smoothie from Jamba Juice.

Bebemiqui said...

My favorite is a homemade:
-banana
-raspberry
-peach
-pineapple
-orange juice
-vanilla yogurt.
So good!
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

J. P. Feingold said...

My favorite smoothie is orange-banana because they're so easy to make at home.

ranya112 said...

My favorite smoothie would be mango or some variation of it.
iridia718 at gmail dot com

Linda said...

My favorite is strawberry.
mintstatesportswear(at)juno(dot)com

Lindsey said...

I like strawberry the best!

Lindsey said...

I follow you on twitter (linds0120)

Valerie said...

I like strawberry banana smoothies in general, but I haven't had a chance to try any from Panera yet.

Lindsey said...

I tweeted about the contest here:
http://twitter.com/?status=Reading%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.financefoodie.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fshape-up-series-taste-testing-panera.html#!/linds0120/status/32256960648708096

Lisa Blessed by God said...

I love banana smoothies!

lisamartinGodbless at hotmail dot com

amp said...

My favorite smoothie is a banana berry one. I also am a big fan of Paneras!

apoalillo At HoTMail (dot) CoM

Erin G said...

I like the Wild Berry!

erroneous02(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bonnie said...

I like mango smoothies, like Panera's lowfat mango smoothie.

unclebonald AT gmail DOT com

Bonnie said...

I follow Finance Foodie on Twitter.

@PTSweeper

unclebonald AT gmail DOT com

Lusi said...

avocado smoothie at that vietnamese restaurant in Boston Chinatown!

Anonymous said...

The Low-fat Black Cherry Smoothie
is for me.

sylvieanddudes@yahoo.com

captainliss40 said...

I like strawberry! captainliss40(at)gmail(dot)com

Ashley said...

Their low-fat mango smoothie sounds divine!

ashaldridge (at) gmail (dot) com

Ashley said...

I follow you on Twitter (AggieAshley).

ashaldridge (at) gmail (dot) com

Ashley said...

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/AggieAshley/status/32291877852028928

ashaldridge (at) gmail (dot) com

Lean said...

I love strawberry and lemon smoothies. LeanS12(at)gmail(dot)com

Lean said...

http://twitter.com/#!/LeanS12/status/32311789639176192 LeanS12(at)gmail(dot)com

gcomstock said...

Forgot to mention/post: I'm following you on twitter @georgecomstock

thanks

Debbie C said...

My favorite is peanut butter banana.

Debbie C said...

Tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/DchrisG3/status/32318435148963840

dchrisg3 @ gmail . com

Betty N said...

I have not had any of these smoothies but raspberry cinnamon bun smoothie sounds absolutely delicious.

Betty N said...

I follow you on twitter (Grandma3710)

Betty N said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/Grandma3710/status/32361977133146112

clc408 said...

Mango is my favorite.

clc408 said...

Tweet:
http://twitter.com/clc408/status/32396057631522816

taylorbagels said...

Strawberry, mango lime

Deborah said...

Strawberry/blueberry/peach/banana is my favorite smoothie.

Terri said...

Panera's Wild Berry smoothie is delicious! Thanks!
tmp95 at comcast dot net

Terri said...

I follow you on Twitter as @dahbou.
tmp95 at comcast dot net

Terri said...

Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/dahbou/status/32417982005116928
tmp95 at comcast dot net

Anonymous said...

Low fat mango.
poomy_fl at yahoo dot com

Fun and Fearless in Beantown said...

I love cranberry apple smoothies!

Fun and Fearless in Beantown said...

And I follow you on Twitter - @FunFearlessBean

taylorbagels said...

Following you on Twitter, id- electricisland

Desmond said...

Strawberry.

dwarzel at hotmail.com

Karin said...

I like strawberry banana, but truthfully I haven't met a smoothie flavor that I didn't like!

karin56381 (at) gmail.com

Unknown said...

Strawberry-banana is my favorite!

Anonymous said...

Love the strawberry-banana smoothie! My email is cookingwhims at gmail dot com

great_boo_02 said...

The low fat Strawberry smoothie is my favorite.
great_boo_02@yahoo.com

Erin said...

I guess I'm kinda boring in the smoothie department -- I like chocolate banana.

glycine.max at gmail.com

ErinM said...

Mango is my favorite!

Adrienne said...

I love Chocolate Banana. acrook1@yahoo.com

Adrienne said...

I follow you on Twitter @acrook1

acrook1@yahoo.com

Missybeez said...

I love Mango!


honeybeez80@yahoo.com

Missybeez said...

Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter@Missybeez80

Unknown said...

Wild Berry is my fave. trinitygsd at yahoo dot com

Amanda S. said...

Black Cherry!
(email is in my profile)

Unknown said...

wild berry sounds good
amy16323(at)gmail(dot)com

kat said...

I love strawberry/banana.

kat_emerick@yahoo.com

Sherry Moore said...

I love strawberry banana!

J BOLF said...

My favorits has to be the Wildberry one, yummy!

J BOLF said...

My favorite is Wildberry!

Sweeps_momma(at)hotmail(dot)com

Melissa O. said...

Mine is definitely mango vanilla!

wolverina401 at gmail dot com

Jen lleras said...

i would get a wild berrie smoothie! I love the lemonaid ones they have in the summer also!

jennifer.lleras@gmail.com

Becky said...

Yum - Panera is the best! My favorite smoothie flavor is berries berries berries! (strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, etc)

Laurie Pearson Photography said...

My favorite smoothie is strawberry and banana

pearson.laurie@gmail.com

Laurie Pearson Photography said...

I follow you on twitter
@chiquidita
pearson.laurie@gmail.com

PamelaJD said...

My favorite flavor from Panera is their Low-fat Mango Smoothie.

joy-productions[at]earthlink[dot]net

Erica C. said...

I love banana...and it's hard to get a banana smoothie without strawberry added in!

Anonymous said...

Erin T

I like strawberry smoothies.

lunabutterfly79@yahoo.com

llinda29 said...

My fave Black Cherry

Crystal said...

I like the low fat Mango Smoothie
Thanks!!

cyclona66 at aol dot com

Taryn said...

I LOVE Strawberry Banana smoothies -- simple but delicious!

tbcollins7@gmail.com

Taryn said...

I tweeted about the giveaway!! (@tbren15)

Nickolay said...

My favorite smoothie is Strawberry/Banana/Orange

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Nickolay said...

Twitter follower

parkerozgood

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Nickolay said...

Tweeted

http://twitter.com/parkerozgood/status/32555204872241152

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Jill Myrick (jsc123) said...

I would love to try the Strawberry Smoothie.

jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

Karen said...

My favorite is anything with berries, especially blueberries.

Erin E said...

I love blackberry/raspberry smoothies. Thank you for the lovely giveaway.
sewmuchstuff at ymail dot com

Erin E said...

Tweet:
http://twitter.com/SewMuchStuff/status/32592121986813953
sewmuchstuff at ymail dot com

debsweeps4 said...

My favorite smoothie is strawberry banana. debsweeps4@yahoo.com

brian said...

for me, it's a mix of honey vanilla lowfat greek yogurt, various fruits & maple syrup. yum

ohstac said...

Peanut Butter Banana smoothies are my favorite.
nrdunningATgmailDOTcom

ohstac said...

I follow you on twitter (ohstac)
nrdunningAtgmailDOTcom

ohstac said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/ohstac/status/32598591491018752
nrdunningATgmailDOTcom

SantaFe said...

The Mango Smoothie sounds yummy.

Lo said...

I love orange juice and vanilla yogurt -- it's like a Creamsicle.

Lo said...

Here's my tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/prizealert/status/32602580227981314

Julie said...

My favorite is just plain old strawberrys and vanilla yogurt
thanks
aunteegem@yahoo.com

Cassie M said...

I love a raspberry-pomegranite smoothie!
Cassie
cjm92995@yahoo.com

hale2005 said...

The Low-fat Wild Berry Smoothie looks great.

hellrzr(at)juno(dot)com

hale2005 said...

tweet

http://twitter.com/mrcheapo/status/32615703693500418

hellrzr(at)juno(dot)com

Lynn said...

Mango is my favorite smoothie flavor!

rawrms (at) gmail (dot) com

magic5905 said...

I love strawberries and blueberries. Thanks.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

Unknown said...

I love the strawberry smoothie.. i get it everytime when i go (or i get the lemonade which is also to die for)

Colengal said...

I love smoothies with raspberries and or blackberries.

kroch said...

I follow Finance foodie on twitter @Katier6678

Dancehottie1621@aol.com

Nancy said...

A strawberry smoothie is my favorite!

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

mickeyfan said...

I prefer strawberry.

Anne said...

I like orange juice blended with cantaloupe and a banana.
ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

Anne said...

I follow you on twitter, lunaj1456

ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

Anne said...

I tweeted
http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/32632291356311552

Anonymous said...

My favorite smoothie is milk/yogurt, ice, and matcha powder. Woo!

Mandy Kauffman said...

I LOVE bluberry banana smoothies with Bee Pollen and wheat grass.

amanda_l_peters@hotmail.com

Heather said...

MMmmmm...Wild Berry is the best!!

Mandy Kauffman said...

I follow financefoodie1 on Twitter (SuperGrover83).

amanda_l_peters@hotmail.com

Mandy Kauffman said...

Tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/SuperGrover83/status/32633654991654913

amanda_l_peters@hotmail.com

Tara said...

Strawberry banana has always been my fave!

TaraTagli at gmail dot com

April said...

I've never tried a Panera smoothie so I don't know which one of theirs would be my favorite. I like the tart ones, strawberry, raspberry, lemon, pineapple. You can throw a banana in there if you want but it isn't my favorite part. I prefer bananas on their own.
april dot vrugtman at gmail dot com

Hotsnotty2 said...

I love the pomegranate mango smoothie, thanks!

Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com

Hotsnotty2 said...

Following on twitter (@hotsnotty2) Thanks!

Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com

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