This past morning, the significant other and I got into a bit of a kerfuffle over whether or not my famous banana nut bread was actually a healthy snack. Her position was that since it tasted so dang good that there was no way that it could be good for you and that I should not be making it as often as I do (I just love to bake). On the other hand, I insisted that since I use only the finest, healthy ingredients and far less sugar than what the original recipe called for ( I add an extra banana instead), my tasty and delicious banana bread was much better for us than most of the other snack foods that we liked to indulge in.
Determined to prove the other one wrong, we both vowed to engage in some research in order to determine whether banana bread is a healthy snack, or really just another tasty and delicious junk food that two health conscious people have no business eating.
Here is what I found out...
While store-bought banana bread made with processed sugar, processed flour, unhealthy oils, and other additives and preservatives is about as good for you as a deep fried twinkie, homemade banana bread made from select ingredients does actually have the potential to be, well, good for you.
Here is a list of the good stuff that homemade banana bread may have in it:
Bananas: rich in dietary fiber, potassium, Vitamin C, B6 and manganese, bananas are a healthy fruit that keeps on giving when partaken in moderation. Rich in sweet natural sugars, they are the perfect alternative to that morning donut.
Whole Wheat Flour: With your daily requirements of fiber, protein, manganese and selenium, whole wheat flour can give you the fuel you need to keep your energy levels high throughout the day.
Eggs: rich in protein and essential amino acids and vitamin D the incredible edible egg can help you build muscles, grow better hair and nails and even help improve your eyesight.
Walnuts (optional): Rich in protein, fiber, vitamin B and E, as well as those super beneficial omega 3 fatty acids, walnuts can help reduce the risk of heart disease by helping lower bad cholesterol.
Pretty much the only thing in homemade banana nut bread that is not particularly good for you is the sugar, and this can be offset by using natural cane sugar or even a sugar alternative such as honey or agave nectar. As long as it is homemade or baked by a trustworthy baker, banana bread can be considered a healthy and delicious snack, provided you do not smother it in a ton of butter.
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