Thoughts on Panera accuracy?

charlenekapf

So, I work and am on the road a lot. I understand the importance of preparing one's own meals and measuring/weighing everything out. Occasionally, at the end of the day if I'm running low on groceries or feel like changing up a meal, I'll get a green goddess salad (full size) or ceasar (full) from Panera. I also love their squash soup that they offer seasonally. I round up their calories as I know they are probably generous with dressings, especially if I order on the side. For those who track carefully (or not but have input), would you trust the nutrition info or do you think it is largely inaccurate?

bpetrosky

I think they're reasonably accurate, but as with any restaurant there's going to be variation with things like condiments and dressings. Some people working the kitchen have a heavier hand with those things than others, though chains try to regulate how much is used in order to contain costs.

Since you're asking for the dressing on the side, you're already taking a step towards managing that. You get to choose how much you use.

GemstoneofHeart

I noticed a couple of weeks ago that Panera has upped their breakfast sandwich calories. The spinach avocado thing used to say 390 on the menu and it now says 410. Not sure on other items. The sandwich hasn't changed, so I figured they re-evaluated it and saw their old one was inaccurate. I appreciate them trying to make it as accurate as possible. The MFP database entries are still showing the old one though.

I agree to just round up a bit or do some extra exercise and not log it. Sometimes I'll do 5 min of jumping jacks to offset any entries I'm questioning. I don't log the jumping jacks (or whatever exercise you prefer)

janejellyroll

I think there is some natural variation in serving sizes and it's never going to be as accurate as when you're measuring your own. But I know sometimes it's not up to us whether or not we're eating at home. When I was losing weight I was travelling a lot. When I ate out, I logged it according to the nutrition info and it never caused issues for me (for what it's worth, I ate a lot of Panera during that period).

That said, your real life results are going to be your best source of feedback. If you're logging the nutrition info and your weight is doing what you expect it to, then you're good. If you find that you are either gaining weight or failing to lose (not sure what your goals are), then adding "buffer calories" when you eat out could be a way to address this.

charlenekapf

Thank you all. That makes complete sense. I'm losing, just a lot slower than I'd like....average 2 lbs a month but I'm lifting and doing intense cardio so it's hard for me to cut calories too low. Clothes are fitting better but I'm trying to fine tune where I may be making mistakes and the Panera was one. The second which is super frustrating is the inaccuracy of calories certain foods where they mislead because of fiber (i.e. halo top, enlightened, quest bars, rx bars, no cow). It's amazing actually calculating out the macros gram for gram how many real calories processed foods (even "healthier") contain. Makes sense why my best losses are the weeks when I average overall mostly fresh food that I weigh and measure.

bpetrosky

GemstoneofHeart wrote: »

I noticed a couple of weeks ago that Panera has upped their breakfast sandwich calories. The spinach avocado thing used to say 390 on the menu and it now says 410. Not sure on other items. The sandwich hasn't changed, so I figured they re-evaluated it and saw their old one was inaccurate. I appreciate them trying to make it as accurate as possible. The MFP database entries are still showing the old one though.

I agree to just round up a bit or do some extra exercise and not log it. Sometimes I'll do 5 min of jumping jacks to offset any entries I'm questioning. I don't log the jumping jacks (or whatever exercise you prefer)

They could have found an inaccuracy, or they changed suppliers for some ingredients and change to reflect the new recipe. Either way, good on them for trying to keep up with it.

GemstoneofHeart

bpetrosky wrote: »

GemstoneofHeart wrote: »

I noticed a couple of weeks ago that Panera has upped their breakfast sandwich calories. The spinach avocado thing used to say 390 on the menu and it now says 410. Not sure on other items. The sandwich hasn't changed, so I figured they re-evaluated it and saw their old one was inaccurate. I appreciate them trying to make it as accurate as possible. The MFP database entries are still showing the old one though.

I agree to just round up a bit or do some extra exercise and not log it. Sometimes I'll do 5 min of jumping jacks to offset any entries I'm questioning. I don't log the jumping jacks (or whatever exercise you prefer)

They could have found an inaccuracy, or they changed suppliers for some ingredients and change to reflect the new recipe. Either way, good on them for trying to keep up with it.

Didn't think of the supplier change! But yes, 5 points to Panera!

PAV8888

charlenekapf wrote: »

Thank you all. That makes complete sense. I'm losing, just a lot slower than I'd like....average 2 lbs a month but I'm lifting and doing intense cardio so it's hard for me to cut calories too low. Clothes are fitting better but I'm trying to fine tune where I may be making mistakes and the Panera was one. The second which is super frustrating is the inaccuracy of calories certain foods where they mislead because of fiber (i.e. halo top, enlightened, quest bars, rx bars, no cow). It's amazing actually calculating out the macros gram for gram how many real calories processed foods (even "healthier") contain. Makes sense why my best losses are the weeks when I average overall mostly fresh food that I weigh and measure.

First of all congrats on sustaining a weight loss. effect over time is much more important than speed, especially if you're combining with exercise and strength training.

I've found that most "fiber" should be counted at about 2 Cal per gram ON AVERAGE IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE based on the types of fiber I encounter in what I eat. Most manufacturers seem to label it as if it were 0 Cal even if they know otherwise.

Also a reminder that I've yet to run into a zero Cal food or condiment, though a lot of times the serving size is chosen such that it comes to under 5 Cal and thus can be legally declared to be a 0 Cal food. USDA nutrient database and comparable 100g entries might shed some light.

Another reminder... if you're losing 2lbs a month you're losing at a rate of 24lb a year which is quite substantial, and in many cases quite adequate if you don't have a huge amount of fat available to lose.

Noreenmarie1234

They aren't accurate at all. I worked for panera and my younger sister still does. No one actually weights out all the servings you just eye ball it. Even with the meats you are "suppose" to weigh it but we rarely did and usually gave extra of everything because we didn't want the customer to complain. The dressing is just spooned on. We are suppose to give 2 scoops but the bosses would tell us to give a little extra and make sure there is enough. The best way is to get dressing on side in container. Also with the sauces added to sandwiches (mayo etc) it is not measured at all just randomly spread on and it depends who makes your sandwich how much they use. Not a big deal for something with low calories, but could be 100-200 calorie difference depending on how much chipotle mayo one person uses. I used to slather both sides of bread but some people would barely put any on etc.

For salads we are suppose to use scoops but when it gets busy no one does and you just grab and eyeball portions.

The bread is not very accurate as well. Out of curiosity I weighed the whole grain bread once.(back when the loaves were larger not the new tiny ones) It says a serving is 130 for 2oz (aka 2 slices) but when weighed one slice was closer to a whole serving so a whole sandwich was usually around 300 calories just for the bread!

The only bread I found that was accurate or below was the sourdough so now I always get that haha.

The soups are probably the most accurate in terms of nutrition because they all come premade in frozen bags and are just dethawed. We are suppose to give extra than one scoop for soup as the traditional scoop (which the nutrition facts are based on) doesn't fill the soup cup/bowl. So it's probably only a tiny bit more.

The mac and cheese is very accurate as it comes frozen in pre packaged single serving bags and is just dethawed and put into a bowl so nothing else can be added.

If you don't go during lunchtime/dinnertime when it's busy you are more likely to have a person who actually measures it out. I would say some items are closer than others. The green goddess if you get dressing on the side theres not much extra that can be added (a little extra chicken they could add only 20-50cal max probably). So I wouldn't worry too much unless it looks as though they gave you extra bacon or avocado and then just estimate another 50 calories or so.

CMNVA

I always generally visit the same Panera and they are pretty consistent with serving sizes. I do take out mostly and find that when I eat in the restaurant, my portions, especially for salad) seem to be 50% larger. The chili serving seems to be the same whether I eat in or take out. I feel like I get most of the variation on the salad so I do try to order dressing on the side.