The Calories in Panera Salads

While salads make a healthy meal option, some of the salads at Panera Bread are high in fat, saturated fat, sodium and calories. High intakes of saturated fat and sodium increase your risk of heart disease. Knowing the nutrition information for the different salad options can help you decide which one makes the best choice for your diet.

Be careful what salad you choose from Panera. (Image: Valentyn Volkov/iStock/Getty Images)

Meatless Salads

Panera Bread offers three meatless salad options: a Greek salad, Caesar salad and a classic salad. If you're looking to save calories, the classic salad is your lowest calorie, fat and sodium option, with 170 calories, 11 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 140 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carb, 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein in a whole serving -- this includes the reduced-fat balsamic vinaigrette. Both the Caesar and the Greek salad are much higher in calories and fat, and the Greek is significantly higher in sodium. One whole serving of the Caesar salad contains 310 calories, 12 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 480 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbs, 3 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein, while the same serving of Greek has360 calories, 32 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 1,140 milligrams of sodium, 13 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein.

Mostly Chicken

Seven of the salads at Panera include chicken as the protein. The lowest calorie salad with chicken is the Asian Sesame chicken salad with 420 calories, 22 grams of total fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 500 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber and 32 grams of protein. The next-lowest calorie option is the Chicken Caesar salad, which has 440 calories, 26 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 660 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbs, 3 grams of fiber and 34 grams of protein. The highest calorie chicken salad at Panera is the Chicken Cobb with Avocado, which has 650 calories, 48 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 970 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbs, 6 grams of fiber and 41 grams of protein.

One Turkey

If you like turkey, Panera Bread offers one turkey-based salad called the Roasted Turkey Harvest Wheatberry salad. As for the salads featuring animal proteins, this turkey salad is one of your lower-calorie options. One whole serving of the turkey salad at Panera contains 450 calories, 15 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 900 milligrams of sodium, 46 grams of carbs, 7 grams of fiber and 35 grams of protein.

Shrimp or Beef

In addition to the poultry salad choices, Panera Bread also offers one beef and one shrimp option. Both of these salads are the two higher-calorie salad options at Panera. One whole serving of the Steak & Blue Cheese salad contains 680 calories, 47 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 1,060 milligrams of sodium, 30 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber, 36 grams of protein. The Chilled Shrimp & Soba Noodle salad is the highest calorie salad on the Panera menu, but it is also the highest in fiber. One whole size serving of this salad contains 700 calories, 23 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 1,720 milligrams of sodium, 86 grams of carbs, 12 grams of fiber and 38 grams of protein.