Fitness & Health: healthy meals

When I moved to the U.S. from Canada, I learned about Panera Bread and have loved it ever since. It's one of my favorite lunch spots and we eat there often enough that my husband gives me a look when he asks where we should eat for lunch and I start to say "Pa..." I'm especially in love with a few items---the Fuji apple chicken salad, the broccoli cheddar soup, the tomato mozzarella panini and the bread that comes with your meal. It's so delicious that I literally just dip it into the butter packets there with reckless abandon because it's too good not to (I hope no one's watching!)

Of all the times I've been to Panera Bread, I had never gone there for breakfast. Well, my friends, when your baby wakes up at 6 a.m. on a Sunday morning, there's really nothing more you can do than to treat yourself to a delicious breakfast that you don't have to make. Bonus points if there is coffee---lots and lots of coffee. And isn't breakfast the most important meal of the day anyway? It's the chance for a fresh (and delicious) start to your day. Sign me up!

We both ordered the egg, sausage and cheese breakfast sandwich on ciabatta and Kevin got a cinnamon bagel with cream cheese and I couldn't resist a cranberry orange muffin. We both got lattes as well. A healthy start to our Sunday.

And we just couldn't leave Panera without taking some goodies home---we went with the delicious cinnamon crunch bagels which are full of cinnamon sugar goodness. I love that you can buy bread and pastries there to take home and enjoy later...maybe even later that same day...

I wasn't aware of this before, but all of Panera's baked goods (including bagels, muffins and scones) are baked fresh each morning by a real skilled baker and all of the breakfast sandwiches are made with freshly baked bread and a freshly cracked egg. No wonder it all tastes so good! In today's world of fast food where processed products are king, it's refreshing to eat somewhere delicious and affordable that also offers fresh foods.

As part of the "Panera Breakfast Backstory Challenge" campaign, Panera Bread is hosting a challenge that allows you to learn about their passion for baking while you gain chances to win great prizes. After you complete three badges, you�re entered to win a grand prize an all-inclusive culinary experience trip to NYC for two (I am happy to join you if you win, hehe!)

Introducing the Panera Breakfast Backstory Challenge for MyPanera� members

When you play the Panera Breakfast Backstory Challenge, you�ll be asked to complete 3 actions to win a badge. After a badge is earned you�ll be entered to win a prize. Collect all 3 badges and get a surprise loaded on to your MyPanera card plus a chance to win an all-inclusive, culinary experience trip to New York City for two!

How to play:

1. Complete any 3 actions to earn a badge and a chance to win prizes.

2. Collect all 3 badges to be eligible for the grand prize drawing.

3. Complete bonus opportunities for more chances at the grand prize.

Prizes you can win:

�       Breville Juice Fountain Elite
�       Breville Barista Express Espresso Maker
�       KitchenAid Professional Stand Mixer
�       Grand Prize - all-inclusive, culinary experience trip to New York City for two

Tell me your favorite way to start your day for a chance to win a $100 Panera gift card. Leave me a comment on this post and please don't forget to leave me your email address so you can be contacted if you win!

Sweepstakes Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: �#SweepstakesEntry�; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winner will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 11/13/13 � 12/8/13.

Be sure to visit the Panera Bread's page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers� reviews and find more chances to win!

One of my New Year's resolutions was to cook more often and learn to make differenct dishes. I was so resistant to recipes. I hated that there were rules and measuring and grocery lists with seemingly endless ingredients to buy.

However, I've changed my tune lately. I've learned to kind of enjoy making different dishes and I am proud of myself everytime I try a new one. I've learned to embrace recipes and come to understand that you have to measure it all out for a reason (because um, otherwise, you'll end up with horrible chicken parmasen one night...not to be too specific or anything, but gosh it was bad).

Today I bring you yet another recipe I saw in Women's Health magazine. I modified it in two ways- we didn't make these as skewers and I didn't use a grill, just a plain ol' pan.

It turns out that my husband hates/loathes/despises both peaches and apricots. In fact, his exact words were "if I was on a deserted island and the only food source were peaches or apricots, I would drown myself." Heavy.

I loved this meal, and H loved the marinated shrimp, but he pushed all of the apricots back onto my plate after giving his deserted island speech. Haha. Keepin' it real, ladies.
Here's what you'll need:

2 tbsp + 2 tsp canola oil
1 tsp lemon zest
Juice of 1 lemon
1/3 cup parsley, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
6 apricots, quartered, pits removed
12 metal or soaked wooden skewers
Lemon wedges

You can find the instructions here, on the Barre Studio's blog.