Panera: I’m Lovin’ It

To say that I’m a fan of Panera Bread is a bit of an understatement.  They started  in St. Louis, so here it’s still called St. Louis Bread Co, or “Bread Co” if you are a St. Louisan.  It’s a pretty sure bet that I’ve been there at least once on any given week, and I’ve been known to eat there a few times a day on occasion.  Panera is my happy place.

a bit of Instagram proof

Panera Bread shares my passion for fresh food made from real ingredients that tastes great. So I was excited to hear that Panera is extending its commitment to nutrition and eating well through the Panera Eat Smarts game, an online game with multiple interactive challenges designed to provide tips to consumers to help them make smarter decisions about the foods they eat at Panera Bread bakery-cafes — and at home.

If you follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, you may have heard that I recently downloaded the Couch to 5K app (#C25K) and have accepted a challenge from fellow Red Faced Runner bloggers (#RFR5K) to try and get more active, eat healthier and sign up for my first 5K in September! yikes!

I’ve never been a runner, but I have to say, the C25K app makes it really easy, by allowing me to slowly build strength and stamina by alternating between walking and running,  3 days a week.  The goal is,  after just 8 weeks, I will be fitter, stronger and healthier than I have ever been.

So,  Panera Eat Smarts, was perfect timing for me!

Panera Eat Smarts  invites players to complete 15 different challenges on three levels.  As you progress, you soon realize that, aside from the fun, you’re learning about nutrition and how to make smart food choices.  For example, in the Spin-A-Meal challenge, which visually resembles a slot machine, you pull a lever in hopes of revealing a You Pick Two® under 600 calories – roughly the amount of calories to consume per meal based on the FDA-recommended 2000 calorie diet. If you really love a certain menu item, you can lock it into place and spin the other slots.

The fun doesn’t stop with the game: Players who complete the first five challenges receive an electronic Panera Eat Smarts cooking and lifestyle magazine, and the first 10,000 players to finish all Level 2 challenges will receive a 30-day free membership for PumpOne, an online fitness exercise program, which can be customized to specific goals and exercise preferences. MyPanera members who complete all Level 3 challenges will be automatically entered for a chance to win a Sandals Resorts Luxury Included® Caribbean Vacation for two. Prizing ends on August 29th, 2012.

I would love to hear if you are a runner, or if you are trying to get more fit, or are you making healthier eating choices? 

GIVEAWAY

To help you enjoy the challenges of the game and learn tips about nutrition and how to make smart food choices along the way Panera would like to give four Cetcu readers a $15 Panera Gift Card.

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED

Congrats to the 4 winners:  Comment #6 Karyn, #92 Gena, #129 Kimkake, #186 Audrey and

To Enter:  Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite Panera menu item, and if you’ve never eaten there, tell me how what you do to try and have a healthy lifestyle.

Extra Entry:  Share this giveaway with friends on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook or on a blog.  Come back and leave a comment letting me know where you shared it.

Official Rules: No purchase necessary. Open to US residents only . Must be over 18. Giveaway begins on July 12, 2012 will end on July 19, 2012 at 5:00 pm CST. Prize value $15.  The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.  Four winners with a valid entry will be selected at random using random.org. Winners will be notified by email by July 24, 2012 and will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected. Cetcu, and Panera are not responsible for lost or undelivered emails. Winners will be posted on this blog post by July 24, 2012.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  By entering this giveaway, you have agreed to these rules.  Giveaway sponsored by Fleishman-Hillard | For Panera Bread .

Good Luck!

I’m Lovin’…….Panera Eat Smarts

Now it’s your turn! Please remember to link back to https://cetcu.com

Let us know what you’re lovin’ this week!

*Don’t forget to come back over the weekend for the I’m Lovin’ It Wrap Up post……where I feature a few of the great links!!

What is I’m Lovin’ It Fridays? get all the info, how to’s trouble shoot and button here

Disclosure: This post and giveaway are sponsored by the good people at Panera.  All views, opinions and love of Panera are all mine