Panera Introduces Warm Grain Bowls

Panera Bread Co. is adding to its product lineup with the introduction of warm grain bowls. The company said the launch is the next step in its mission “to offer more grains, plants and proteins on its menu, with a focus on delivering craveable food that makes you feel not just full, but fulfilled.”  The new made-to-order grain bowls are available in two varieties: Baja and Mediterranean, and spokespeople at Panera say they are designed to fit into a flexitarian diet and contain at least 29 grams of protein.

The Baja grain bowl is made with cilantro-lime long grain brown rice, a mix of red and golden quinoa, grilled citrus pepper chicken, black bean and corn salsa, house-made salsa verde, red grape tomatoes, fresh avocado, feta crumbles and whole-milk Greek yogurt.

The Mediterranean grain bowl features cilantro-lime long-grain brown rice, a mix of red and golden quinoa on a bed of arugula, layered with grilled citrus pepper chicken, red grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, diced cucumbers, hummus, lemon tahini dressing, feta crumbles and whole-milk Greek yogurt with a squeeze of lemon.

“With the launch of our Baja and Mediterranean warm grain bowls, Panera is at the forefront of bringing on-trend bowls to consumers across America, at scale,” said Daniel A. Wegiel, executive vice-president and chief growth and strategy officer at Panera. “Interest in bowls that feature an abundance of nutrient-dense, fresh, layered ingredients, lean protein, veggies, grains and flavorful sauces is on the rise. We believe this product is the best example of what we stand for when we say ‘good and good for you.’ Panera’s warm grain bowls deliver on consumer demand for options that are both hearty and nutritious, that they can feel good about, without compromise.”

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