Think Pink Bagel From Panera Makes Me Think Not!

As much as I embrace anything pink and anything that recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness, I have to pan the Cherry Vanilla Bagel at Panera Bread Company. I usually like many of the items on their menu, but the idea of a cherry vanilla bagel rubs me the wrong way.

A cherry vanilla muffin sounds good, a cherry vanilla bagel on the other hand, sounds and in this instance, tastes awful. This pink bagel is infused with dried cherries, dried, cranberries, vanilla, brown sugar and these horrible cherry chips (which are artificially flavored faux chocolate chips that are supposed to add even more cherry taste).

The nutritional information provided on Panera’s website suggests that eaten plain (as is, without toppings) that this single bagel has 410 calories, 75 carbs and 5 of the 7 grams of fat are saturated. For each sale of a Pink Ribbon Bagel, Panera will donate a portion of the proceeds, which is a great thing to do - if the product was worth buying. If you want to support Breast Cancer Awareness that is admirable, but to associate this particular product with improving women’s lives is laughable. Come on Panera, try again.

Written by Helene, who is a “fly by the seat of her pants” mom with 6 kids, well really 7 if you count her husband. She is a die-hard bargain shopper, designer-clad domestic diva who writes reviews to maintain a sense of sanity and unleash her creative side. You can also keep up with their busy family at their blog.