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Celebrate National Donut Day at Dunkin' Donuts

Susannah Chen — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:36:17 PDT

Need an excuse to kick off your Friday with a sweet indulgence? Now you've got one. It happens to be National Donut Day, and to celebrate, Dunkin' Donuts is giving away a free doughnut of your choice with the purchase of a drink (excluding bottled cooler beverages).

Interesting fact: National Donut Day, which customarily takes place the first Friday of June, was established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army as a way to honor women who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.

Although Northern California isn't lucky enough to be home to a DD location just yet, no doubt a healthy chunk of the chain's 5.3 million daily customers will be walking away with the likes of free Bavarian Kreme and Chocolate Frosted Cake doughnuts. Will you be one of them?

Source: Flickr User DislOck

Dunkin' Talks Trends, Competition, and Breakfast For Dinner

Susannah Chen — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 03:59:29 PDT

Earlier this morning, Dunkin' Donuts announced that it's come out with Hearty Snacks, a new menu that features the likes of stuffed breadsticks and handheld pies.

We took a minute to talk to Stan Frankenthaler, Vice President and Executive Chef of Product Innovation for Dunkin' Brands, who spoke about the reasoning behind his all-day snack food choices.

See what he had to say about adapting to trends and the fierce competition that is fast food breakfast when you keep reading.

A First Look at the Hearty Snacks Menu by Dunkin' Donuts

Susannah Chen — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 03:09:50 PDT

Looks like Dunkin' Donuts is moving beyond the battle for breakfast sales. This morning, the chain has unveiled Hearty Snacks, a new line designed to fuel customers throughout the day and in between meals.

The initial lineup includes Stuffed Breadsticks in two flavors, Cheeseburger and Pepperoni & Cheese ($1.59); Bagel Twists, in savory (Cheddar Cheese) and sweet (Cinnamon Raisin) ($1.39); and Warm Apple Pie, baked with cinnamon sugar ($1.29).

Why the focus on daytime snacking? Why, time! "People today have less time than ever before and seek foods that can be enjoyed on-the-go, any time of day, with no compromise on taste or quality," Dunkin' said in a statement.

The company's shifted its strategy hot on the heels of a report that revealed 55 percent of consumers snack at least once a day, and 21 percent are snacking more frequently than they did two years ago. Sounds like an all-day grazing menu could be the next frontier in fast food. Check out the new menu below. What do you think of the snack offerings?

View 5 Photos ›

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Dunkin's New Big 'N Toasty: Does It Live Up to Its Name?

YumSugar — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:15:14 PST

Those fast food breakfast wars aren't letting up anytime soon. This week, Dunkin' Donuts revealed its latest breakfast offering: The Big 'N Toasty, a breakfast sandwich made with two peppered fried eggs, four portions of cherrywood-smoked bacon, and a slice of American cheese, all sandwiched between two pieces of thick-cut Texas toast.

Seems like a pretty generous portion for $3.29 - but how did it taste?

Slashfood took it for a morning spin and discovered the sandwich had both advantages and drawbacks. Read the full review - and see the final grade - when you catch the full story at Slashfood.

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Dunkin' Donuts Is Banking on All-Day Sandwiches

Susannah Chen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:15:17 PST

Looks like Starbucks and McDonald's aren't the only two chains who want a piece of breakfast between bread: starting this week, Dunkin' Donuts introduces two new sandwich offerings, to be offered at DD locations throughout the day - including breakfast, of course.

The new sandwiches will "be familiar, but with a twist," said Stan Frankenthaler, Dunkin' Brands' executive chef and head of product innovation. The Ham & Cheese Bakery Sandwich contains Black Forest ham, white cheddar, and a creamy dijon mustard sauce; Turkey, Cheddar, & Bacon is made with turkey, white cheddar, bacon, and ancho chipotle sauce. Both are made to order on a croissant, bagel, or the new baked-fresh-daily French roll.

The announcement of these all-day sandwiches arrives just as Taco Bell rolls out its First Meal menu of breakfast items. Still, Dunkin' is quick to explain what differentiates the brand's ham and bacon sandwiches from similar breakfast sandwich offerings already on the market. "We think our bakery leadership is a real differentiator in our brand," Frankenthaler told us. "Our guests already know us and love us for our fresh bagels (we're the number one retailer of bagels in the United States) and croissants."

Providing all-day options is "extremely important for Dunkin’ Donuts," he added. "Breakfast sandwiches are popular with our guests, and they like the flexibility to enjoy them throughout the day."

With first Taco Bell and now Dunkin' Donuts taking the mornings to another level, it's clear that the fast-food AM wars won't be letting up anytime soon. Will you try a new sandwich from Dunkin' Donuts?

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7 Ideas to Save on Your Morning Coffee

Emily Co — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:14 PST

The Latte Factor is very real - the average American worker spends $1,092 on coffee, The Consumerist reports. Citing data from Accounting Principals' latest Workonomix survey, the site goes on to say that the average worker is apparently spending more than $20 a week on coffee. The amount is comparable to other expenses like commute, which were mentioned in the study. So how do we start saving on this big budget drain? Here are some ideas:

Try low-end. New York Magazine did a coffee taste test and food critic Adam Platt found that coffee from Dunkin' Donuts actually tasted better than Starbucks. If you're craving coffee, opt to get a cup of joe from a lesser-known chain.
Cash in on freebies. Keep your eye out for freebies and remember Starbucks gives customers a free birthday beverage as long as you register your Starbucks gift card and use it once. And if you're a loyal Starbucks customer, you can attain gold member status and receive free coffee for every 15 drinks. Remember that Sept. 29 is National Coffee Day, so there should be plenty of coffee freebies then. Earth Day generally offers a lot of coffee freebies as well.
Find Starbucks recipes. Find out how to make drinks just like Starbucks by doing some research online. Personal finance blogger Squawkfox was able to mimic a tall Starbucks frappuccino ($4) for only 32 cents. The secret is actually xanthan gum ($16), a food thickener that keeps the texture smooth and the drink together. There are also plenty of other sites that have copycat recipes of all the Starbucks drinks.
Go instant. Instant coffee isn't too bad if you dress it up with these recipes. Add cocoa or spices like nutmeg, blend it with ice, douse it with milk, or add honey.

Read on for more ideas.

5 Unbelievably Bad Fast-Food Breakfasts

Prevention — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:06:39 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

By Molly Raisch, Prevention

Mom always said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” And she was right. Morning meals are essential to revving your metabolism and kick-starting your calorie burn, but indulging in a fat- and calorie-laden breakfast from your favorite fast-food chain could easily send you into sugar shock and pack on the pounds. Research shows that people who ate a big morning meal consumed an extra 400 calories per day, setting themselves up for muffin tops and pancake bottoms. Here are six breakfast drive-through disasters and their Prevention-approved healthier, make-at-home options.

Fifty Simple Strategies to Lose 10 Pounds

Starbucks® Zucchini-Walnut Muffin
Muffins are calorie sinkholes - they pack in the calories but somehow still leave your stomach grumbling. This muffin from Starbucks® seems healthy enough, boasting both zucchini and walnuts, but don’t be fooled by its veggie-based name. This morning baked good has close to 500 calories and 28 grams of fat.

Try Instead: Zucchini-Raisin Muffin
These scrumptious zucchini muffins are half the calories and nearly a third of the fat as their coffeehouse counterparts. Tricks of the trade: Load up your bread batter with tons of zucchini shreds and add raisins for a touch of natural sweetness.

Ten Breakfasts For Glowing Skin

McDonald’s Big Breakfast® With Hotcakes
When your breakfast comes off a fast-food menu and has the word “big” in it, your waistline is headed in the same direction. This hearty breakfast has scrambled eggs, sausage, a buttermilk biscuit, hash browns, and two hotcakes piled onto a plate, making it no surprise that one order accounts for over half your day’s calories and over 55 grams of fat. The worst part? This lumberjack breakfast is sky-high in sodium: 2,150 milligrams.

Try Instead: Pancakes With Berries and Cinnamon
Satisfy your hotcake cravings with these light and fluffy low-cal flapjacks. The secret to cutting fat and calories without losing any buttery flavor: bake them in the oven. Top with berries and cinnamon, and you’ve got a mouthwatering, guilt-free pancake breakfast the whole family will love.

Keep reading for more healthy breakfast swaps after the break.

Yummy Links: From Tequila to Coconut Milk

YumSugar — Thu, 05 May 2011 10:27:46 PDT

The history of tequila. - Salon
Speaking of tequila, is the margarita ready to reclaim its cool status? - Grub Street NY
Five things you don't know about Daniel Boulud, Dan Barber, and Wolfgang Puck. - The Feast
Dunkin' Donuts is going public. - Huffington Post Food
Must make: roasted jalapeño tomato salsa baked goat cheese. - Chaos in the Kitchen
If you love tea, here's an app for you. - Daily Dish
Watch a preview of PBS' new show Kimchi Chronicles. - Eater
Learn what foods Giada de Laurentiis makes for her daughter. - Today
What exactly is coconut milk? - Baking Bites

Dunkin' Donuts Moves West

Susannah Chen — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:03:24 PDT

We've been following what Dunkin' Donuts has been up to for years and we'll finally be able to see if the chain lives up to its hype. After years of customers begging and pleading, Dunkin' is expanding west.

The Massachusetts-based doughnut and coffee chain plans to open up to 250 new stores in the next two years - and to hit the 15,000 mark in the next 20 years. (To put things in perspective, McDonald's currently operates 14,000 locations in America.) So far, research analysts have been skeptical of Dunkin' Donuts's success outside of the Northeast, given the disproportionate number of coffee and snack stores in the West.

As someone who's long been enamored with the chain's unique items, like cocoa yeast doughnuts and sausage pancake bites, I'm hoping that's not the case. West Coasters, what do you think of a new Dunkin' Donuts in your neighborhood?

Black Friday: Food Court Survival Guide

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 02:30:03 PST

Black Friday. A day full of deals, long lines, and schlepping bags full of gifts around the mall. It's a shopping marathon and a gal needs to fuel for endurance events.

The holiday season is full wonderful home-baked treats, you don't want to waste precious calories on run-of-the-mill food court fare. I have found a few items that are lower in calories and saturated fat and though may not be the healthiest choices overall, like celeb trainer Valerie Waters says, sometimes you just have to just make the better choice.

From Dunkin' Donuts:
Multigrain bagel w/ reduced fat veggie cream cheese: 510 calories, 6.5 g saturated fat
Egg White Turkey Sausage Flatbread Sandwich: 290 calories, 3 g saturated fat
Egg White and Cheese Wake-Up Wrap: 150 calories, 3 g saturated fat

From McDonald's:
Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken: 320 calories, 3 g saturated fat
Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken: 220 calories, 3 g saturated fat
Snack Size Fruit & Walnut Salad: 210 calories, 1.5 g of saturated fat

Opt for no dressing or choose from these two:

Newman's Own Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette: 40 calories, 0 g saturated fat
Newman's Own Low Fat Family Recipe Italian Dressing: 60 calories, 0 g saturated fat

Not lovin' those option? Then look for more choices after the break.