A Healthier Banana Bread: (Recipe’s at bottom)
So maybe this is second nature to some advanced cooks out there, but it was pretty new to me. I was meditating on the Banana Bread recipe the other
day and I thought, I bet we could pack much healthier stuff into it and actually make it beneficial for our bodies. So I first pondered the 1.5 Cups of flour……which is pretty much equal to pure sugar these days, and then the GMO effect isn’t pretty either as gluten intolerant people will tell you. Have you read the book, “Wheat Belly”? The motto is: “Lose the wheat and lose the weight!”
So in my modified recipe, I threw in 1 full cup of oats instead and only half cup of white flour. I guess you could probably use a half cup of coconut flour too, or maybe a full 1.5 cups of oats. (Don’t forget the pinch of salt and teaspoon of baking soda).
Now for the Banana fillings: I used the 3 bananas. I put them in my blender. Then added 3 or tbs of real coconut meat. Then added a spoon of flax seed, some pumpkin seeds, almonds, 2 eggs, dash of cinnamon and mixed. Added that stuff to a couple of tbs of real butter with only 2 tbs of brown sugar, handful of raisons and walnuts. I’m sure sugar is even optional.
Anyways, I baked, and I tell you this the most delicious banana bread I ever ate! Seriously!!
Reflecting today. I’m sure you could replace the butter with coconut oil, though I think pure butter has a fair bit of nutrition too. I also bet blending in an avocado, perhaps half zucchini, and blended apple would be good as well.
In the end, it’s always nice to eat something that offers something to your body rather than subtracting from your body and overall health. Bon appetite!
In another attempt at making I did the following and pasted on FB:
“Well, I did it. This time around I did use 90% Oats instead of flour. Blended in 1/3 of zucchini, 3 eggs, cocoa powder, more coconut, an avocado, almonds, pumpkin/sunflour seeds, tbs flaxseed powder, walnuts, less butter given the natural healthy fats of coconut and avocado. Spoon of honey, only 1 brown-sugar, one apple. Actually probably used closed 3 cups of oats. And now I feel better packing this into my boys’ school lunches.”
So here’s how I made it. You can compare the basic “unhealthy recipe” at bottom compare and decide for yourself.
Healthy Banana Bread Recipe:
Blend follow ingredients:
1. 3 ripe bananas (ripe ones are naturally sweet).
2. 2 Eggs
3. 1 Avocado (optional)
4. 1/3 zucchini (optional)
5. About 4tbs of fresh coconut
6. Tsp of grated fresh ginger (optional)
7. Handful of pumpkin/sunflower seeds.
8. 1 tsp of flax seed
9. 1 Fresh Apple (seeds removed) optional.
After Blended Add mixture to dry ingredients:
1 Cup Oats
1/2 Cup of Flour or Coconut flour (or 1/4 each)
2 tbs of Fresh Butter (Cut in and mix well with dry ingredients or melt and mix in).
(Use 2 or 3 Tbsp of Coconut Oil if prefer.)
1 tsp of Baking Soda
1 or 2 Tbs of brown sugar.
1 tsp of cinnamon
Handful of raisins
Small Handful of Walnuts.
Pinch of salt
Cocoa Powder is optional. 1-3 Tbsp (Usually requires more sweetness though).
Cook at 350 for one hour.
Basic Banana Bread:
2 to 3 very ripe bananas, peeled
1/3 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt 3/4 cup sugar (1/2 cup if you would like it less sweet, 1 cup if more sweet)
1 large egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
Cook at 350 for one hour.