DIET BUSTERS

*Yep, I feel like I ate this whole turkey*

As I'm going in and out of the office to my various breakfast and lunch meetings, I am confronted with selecting meals that align with my goals in weight loss. However, sometimes, lunch is provided, which means that I have to select from a certain box sandwich and choose which sandwich would be best. My mind always goes to turkey and chicken options, but I'm find this week that those are not always the best alternative.

On Monday, I felt good, excited, unbreakable...I quickly learned that humble pie isn't so bad *mumbles*. I'd decided to develop a strategy before attending my all day workshop. I would just bring healthy, low fat snacks, and TONS of water to brace for the prearranged lunch. My snacks consisted of one of my tasty Ellie Krieger Energy Bars, a banana, a fruit cup (35 cal), and a fruit salad consisting of watermelon, 7 cherries, and 7 blackberries (mostly because they are too expensive to eat so many at a time). This was a meeting on health, and I came knowing that our options would be healthy choices AND, I was right ... well sorta.

I selected the Panera Sierra Turkey Sandwich and honestly, I decided that this meal would just be an all day meal for me...half for lunch, half for dinner, half the cookie, blah- blah- blah. Upon reviewing my day, I found out that I'd eaten a 970 calorie sandwich!!! For me, this is NEVER okay!!! Not to mention the fact that the sandwich contained 1,970mg of sodium (my full day's worth) & lets not even talk about the chips or cookie!!! I just tasted the chips, but between lunch and dinner, I ate most of the cookie (shared the rest with my kiddo). I was dumbfounded and quickly learned to be careful with supposed "healthy" sandwiches. Upon reviewing their site, I found that sandwiches was strategically placed at the end of the list...it was the only option not in alphabetical order. I feel tricked...bamboozed...mad as a bull in a red room!!!

If you have a choice in the matter and you just have to have a turkey sandwich, please select the Smoke Turkey Sandwich...although, the sodium intake is about the same. They also have some of the tastiest soups and salads around....but watch the ingredients and pay close attention to what you're eating. This is my first time eating Panera, and to be honest, it was the BEST sandwich I'd ever eaten, but it was not the best food option. I did have a choice of the roast beef sandwich, and would have been the better selection. MORAL: just because it's turkey/chicken, doesn't mean that it's the best option.