This Is Actually The Healthiest Item On The Menu At Panera, According To Health Experts

If you’re venturing to eat out this week, Panera might be on your list of places to go. And that’s great, health experts explain, partly due to the fact that the restaurant chain recently eliminated high-fructose corn syrup from all their meals and beverages (even their Pepsi!). But with some menu items like the macaroni and cheese topping 1,000 calories in a single meal, it is all about what you choose to order when it comes to watching your waistline. Here’s what the experts say is *actually* the healthiest item on the menu–it’s not salad!

“I think Mediterranean Bowl with Chicken is the most complete and balanced meal on the menu,” nutritionist Tati Godoy of YumThyme tells us.

Here’s what it has to offer, Godoy explains: arugula, a more nutrient-dense green than lettuce, whole grains rice and quinoa (good sources of soluble fiber), olives which are high in antioxidant-rich polyphenols (beneficial for our gut and immune system), greek yogurt in tahini which is a probiotic (bonus for our gut!) and a good source of calcium as well as tomatoes (source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that has anti-cancer properties) and plant-based protein and fiber-rich hummus. Wow!

The only downside? “The only drawback is sodium content, but it is almost impossible to avoid when eating out,” she explains. To reduce sodium content in this meal, Godoy recommends asking for 1/2 less cheese, or splitting this bowl into two meals.

Not a fan of the Mediterranean flavor profile? Other protein-packed bowls from their menu are recommended as well.

“If you stop into Panera Bread, you can get a lot of nutritional value from the Baja Grain Bowl with Chicken,” Jay Cowin, NNCP, RNT, RNC, CHN, CSNA, ASYSTEM‘s Registered Nutritionist and Director of Formulations tells us.

“This Mexican-seasoned dish is packed with hearty ingredients: rice, quinoa, black bean and corn salsa, avocado, and salsa verde.” Yum–both good options!