New Year, New Foods

Let’s see if we can’t make those resolutions stick around longer than a week, shall we? Panera Bread bakery-cafes across Southern California, including Hastings Ranch in Pasadena, are introducing additional menu items that will help food lovers stick to their New Year’s Resolutions for nutritious eating this year.

Beginning today, customers can order the Mediterranean Shrimp Couscous Salad, All Natural Turkey Chili, Power Chicken Hummus Bowl and Low-Fat B-Green Power Smoothie.

The new Mediterranean Shrimp Couscous Salad features a refreshing mix of baby spinach and romaine lettuce tossed with low fat Meyer lemon balsamic vinaigrette and Panera’s signature couscous blend, topped with a flavor-packed combo of shrimp, feta, kalamata olives and roasted tomatoes.

The Power Chicken Hummus Bowl and Power Breakfast Egg White Bowl with Roasted Turkey began as “hidden menu” items and were so popular, they will be joining the menu at the start of the year. The Power Chicken Hummus Bowl is a zesty salad made with all-natural, chicken raised without antibiotics, cilantro jalapeño hummus, fresh baby spinach, cucumbers, diced tomatoes and red onions, finished with freshly squeezed lemon and fresh, chopped cilantro.  The Power Breakfast Egg White Bowl with Roasted Turkey includes all-natural, roasted turkey raised without antibiotics, egg whites, warm baby spinach, roasted peppers and pesto-basil.

The All Natural Turkey Chili soup is a hearty blend of ground and pulled, dark, roasted turkey raised without antibiotics, garbanzo, kidney beans, slow cooked with tomatillos, corn, pasilla negro and ancho chili powders, cumin, edamame, diced onions, carrots, garlic and green chilies. The Chili will be offered as a You Pick Two© option, paired with the Spinach Power Salad.

The new Low-Fat B-Green Power Smoothie is a great way to kick-start 2014 New Year’s Resolutions. The smoothie offers a tasty blend of fruit and vegetable purees, juice and concentrates and one whole banana, blended with ice.

Feel healthier already, don’t you?

Panera Bread is at 3521 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena. (626) 351-8272. www.panerabread.com