Nutrition in the News

Some nutrition and exercise news you may have missed.  Like to go out to eat?  Which restaurant is revising its menu?  No time to exercise?  What would a brisk walk for 10 minutes a day do for your health?

1.    Which restaurant is revising its menu?  Panera bread will soon have ten new choices on their menu.  But only in Lexington, KY and Providence, RI in September 2019.  But if successful, you may be seeing these items in your Panera in the not too distant future.  What are some of the new offerings?

a.       Flatbreads:

·         Artisan flatbread – one of my favorite appetizers when we go out to eat so glad to hear that Panera bread is testing the addition of this to their menu. 

·         Margherita Artisan Flatbread – fresh mozzarella, fontina, a tomato and bell pepper sauce, some red grape tomatoes and fresh basil.  Sounds delicious.

·         Steak & Blue Cheese Flatbread – the stead will be from grass-fed beef, and blue cheese, fresh mozzarella and fontina with a garlic cream sauce, some caramelized onions, arugula and a sweet balsamic glaze.

·         Chipotle Chicken & Bacon Artisan Flatbread – chicken, bacon, a garlic cream sauce, some fresh mozzarella and fontina, some red grape tomatoes, and fresh cilantro with a chipotle aioli (a Mediterranean sauce made up of olive oil and garlic).   

b.      New sandwiches

·         Toasted Pastrami Sandwich – served hot

·         Toasted Tuscan Grilled Chicken Sandwich – also served hot

c.       New Bowls

·         Teriyaki Chicken & Broccoli Bowl – which the Delish Lifestyle Editor claimed was a healthier Panda Express type meal

·         Pesto Chicken Bowl

Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli Bowl

d.    New Salads to try like the Tomato Basil Cucumber Salad

2.     Exercise – a new study finds that even 10 minutes of brisk walking a day which equates to an hour a week, can add to your health.  Researchers studied 1,564 people (ages 45-79), who stated they had some pain or stiffness in their knees or hips.  Those who walked briskly for about 55 minutes a week or about 10 minutes a day were found to have fewer joint problems four years later.  Many people say they have no time to exercise but aiming for a fast-paced 10 -minute walk a day can fit into most people’s schedules.  And some short, but more frequent, walking breaks can lower your blood sugar levels.  Exercise helps get the sugar out of your blood and into your muscles so getting in some walking, taking the stairs, just being more active is a healthy thing to do.

I like to eat at Panera and look forward to their new menu.  I hope their testing phase is a short one and their new menu items are available at all Panera’s soon.  Summer is a great time to get in some extra walking.  Try early in the morning or later in the evening when the temperature isn’t so hot.  

Sources:  Panera, aioli, Editor, Exercise, sugar  Images:  menu items,  Bowls. Walking