I was flipping through food blogs and skinny recipes this week and stumbled upon this gem on the Self Magazine blog.

I have worked in food service since I was 16, so I know all about the “secret” menu items.  I always laugh when I come across the Starbucks versions [I worked there for 4.5 years], because they truly are no secret. The Starbucks menu rotates, so as long as they still have the syrups and ingredients, they will make you whatever you want–like a Tuxedo mocha.  But Panera…whoa nelly!

Most of us know that Panera offers a whole grain baguette instead of the standard white/french/italian baguette…but last week I figured out that they offer Baked Lays [gah!].  And it isn’t a joke, I have ordered them.  It is rare that I NEED chips with my Panera meal, but sometimes I just have to indulge…and the Baked Lays option is just a little less guilt-ridden.  Aside from the whole grain baguette or Baked Lays though, it seems like you can put the word “power” in front of any menu item and get something “better” or “skinny.”  [Not to be confused with their current Spinach Power Salad…which is AWESOME.]

Here are a few of the items that the Self article “What to Order This Week: Panera Bread” lists [yum, yum, yum…oh my god, they have HUMMUS!]:

• Power Breakfast Egg White Bowl with Roasted Turkey: Roasted all-natural, antibiotic-free turkey, egg whites, warm baby spinach, roasted peppers, and basil pesto. [180 calories, 7g carbs, 25g protein]
• Power Chicken Hummus Bowl: All-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, with cilantro jalapeno hummus, baby spinach, cucumbers, diced tomatoes & red onions finished with fresh squeezed lemon & fresh chopped
  cilantro. [330 calories, 23g carbs, 33g protein]
• Power Steak Lettuce Wrap: Seared top-sirloin, leaf lettuce, cucumbers, diced tomatoes, red onions, basil pesto and finished with fresh lemon juice. [280 calories, 7g carbs, 28g protein]

Mmmmm, spinach, protein, hummus, low cal, pesto…