15 Panera Drinks that are Secretly Sugar Bombs

Panera Bread is a go-to spot for many families. From warm soups and fresh sandwiches to bakery treats and seasonal salads, it feels like a convenient and wholesome option for lunch or dinner. With rotating menu items and kid-friendly choices, it is easy to see why so many parents keep it in their regular meal rotation.

But while parents often pay close attention to what goes on their child’s plate, what is in their cup can be just as important. Many popular drinks, especially flavored teas, lemonades, and specialty beverages, can contain surprising amounts of added sugar. Even drinks that sound refreshing or fruit-based are not always the healthier choice they appear to be.

Monitoring added sugar intake is an important part of supporting your family’s overall health. While some sugar occurs naturally in foods and dairy products, added sugars are the ones that can quickly add up throughout the day.

In this article, we take a closer look at 15 Panera Bread drinks that are especially high in sugar. Using information from Panera’s published nutrition guide, we break down which beverages parents may want to think twice about ordering. Keep in mind that sugar content in self-serve fountain drinks can vary slightly depending on portion size and how much ice is used.

Depending on what your child orders as their main dish, you should be mindful of what drink they order. If you aren't careful with these Panera drinks, your child could be drinking a sugar bomb.

According to the AAP, children shouldn't have more than 25 grams of added sugar daily. This equals about six teaspoons. The reason you need to be mindful of added sugar in food and drinks is simple. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

Sugar can put children at risk for several adverse effects, including tooth decay, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. The drinks on this list all have more than 25 grams of sugar, which accounts for more than the recommended amount.

• Amount of Sugar: 48 grams in 20-oz size

The Agave Lemonade is a popular drink choice at Panera. It's made with lemon juice, sugar, and agave nectar. Despite how refreshing it may be, it contains quite a bit of sugar.

• Amount of Sugar: 78 grams in 20-oz size

The Tropicana Fruit Punch is another popular drink that many kids enjoy. It may seem innocent enough, but it contains nearly 80 grams of sugar in the smallest size.

• Amount of Sugar: 66 grams in a 20-oz size

The Tropicana Lemonade may seem like a good alternative if your kids want a drink. While the Tropicana Lemonade does contain less sugar than the fruit punch, it still contains a large amount.

• Amount of Sugar: 45 grams in a 12-oz bottle

Fruit juice is one of the most popular drinks for kids, and many parents may not realize how much sugar is in it. In a 12 fl. oz bottle of Minute Maid orange juice, customers will be drinking 45 grams of sugar.

• Amount of Sugar: 68 grams in a 20-oz size

Starry Lemon Lime is not much better. Like most sodas, it contains an enormous amount of sugar, even in the 20-oz size.

• Amount of Sugar: 69 grams in a 20-oz size

Soda isn't a good thing to drink for kids and adults alike. The sugar alone is worth saying no. In a 20 fl. oz Pepsi, there are 69 grams of sugar.

• Amount of Sugar: 63 grams in a 20-oz size

Root Beer is often a better choice because of the lack of caffeine. However, it also contains 63 grams of sugar in a 20 fl. oz container.

• Amount of Sugar: 30 grams in a 20-oz size

While not as high as soda, tea can also contain a lot of sugar. The Lipton Brisk Raspberry Tea has 30 grams of sugar, which is more than the recommended daily amount.

• Amount of Sugar: 34 grams in a 20-oz size

If you have older kids or teens, they may choose to order a latte. Or, you might even order one for yourself. However, the Madagascar Vanilla Latte contains 34 grams of sugar in a 20 fl. oz container.

• Amount of Sugar: 77 grams in 12-oz bottle

Mountain Dew is one of the more popular sugar bombs out there. It has 77 grams of sugar in a 20 fl. oz bottle.

• Amount of Sugar: 69 grams in 20-oz size

The Panera Bread Signature Hot Chocolate may be tempting, but it should be thought of as a treat, not something your child drinks all the time. This is because a 20 fl. oz cup has 69 grams of sugar. (The Signature Hot Chocolate is currently out of season at Panera.)

• Amount of Sugar: 36 grams in a 16-oz size

A smoothie may seem like a healthy choice, and in many cases, it can be. However, it depends on the ingredients and how much added sugar is in the frozen drink. The Strawberry Banana Smoothie at Panera has 36 grams of sugar in a 16-oz size.

• Amount of Sugar: 70 grams in a 20-oz size

Wild Cherry Pepsi may be delicious, but like most other soda options, it's loaded with sugar. This drink comes close to leading the top sugar bombs with 70 grams of sugar.

• Amount of Sugar: 40 grams in a 20-oz size

Somehow, tea often seems like a healthier choice than other beverages, but that's not always the case. The 20 fl. oz. Chai Tea Latte comes with 40 grams of sugar in the smallest size.

Lastly, the Caramel Latte at Panera is delicious, but has quite a bit of sugar for a coffee beverage. A 20-oz latte has 56 grams of sugar. Even as a sweet treat or pick-me-up, that's far more than the daily recommended amount of sugar.

As parents, it's our job to be mindful of what our children are putting into their bodies. While it's okay to allow sweet drinks and treats, teaching our kids what is nutritious for their bodies and what is a treat is necessary.

At the same time, a sugary drink is fun and tasty every once in a while. They certainly shouldn't be consumed daily. Which means we all need to be careful with these drinks from Panera because they are outright sugar bombs. (Read: 8 Sandwich Chains That Are a Huge Upgrade from Subway.)