Recipe Rehab: Banana Bread

One of our readers wrote in requesting to rehab banana bread. As I was looking at my grandmother's recipe that has been passed down through the generations, I noticed that it called for vegetable shortening and quite a bit of sugar. Now, I love to eat banana bread in the morning for breakfast, but I know that something with a lot of sugar will cause my energy level to drop quickly a few hours later. Additionally, vegetable shortening usually contains trans fats, which have been liked to high cholesterol levels and heart disease.

In my recipe rehab, I will reduce the amount of sugar and replace it with honey or Splenda. Honey adds a little more flavor and goes well with the banana, but Splenda will reduce the calories even further. I will remove the vegetable shortening completely by adding more banana pulp to intensify that banana flavor. Finally, I will use a mixture of rolled oats and chopped walnuts moistened with a few tablespoons of maple syrup to add a crispy topping to the bread. This addition adds healthy cholesterol lowering fiber and monounsaturated fats, while also adding protein.

Now, that's something I can eat for breakfast!

Ingredients:
3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup white whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 egg whites
1 cup mashed bananas (2-3 bananas)
1/4 cup non-fat milk
1/3 cup honey or Splenda
1/4 cup rolled oats
2 tablespoons walnuts, crushed
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Instructions:
1. In a medium bowl sift together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
2. In a larger bowl, beat egg whites lightly. Stir in milk, mashed bananas and honey (or Splenda). Add flour mixture and stir until well blended.
3. Pour into greased loaf pan.
4. To make the topping, combine the rolled oats, crushed walnuts and maple syrup in a small bowl and mix until moistened. Sprinkle over the top of the batter.
5. Put in the oven and bake at 350°F for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Serves: 10

Nutrition Content (per serving): 205 calories, 3 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 42 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, 5 g protein, 284 mg sodium

Note: Using Splenda instead of honey will reduce the calories to 165 and the carbohydrates to 32 g.

If you like this recipe, try my Carrot Cake rehab!

Readers, I would love to hear from you! Please send me your favorite fattening recipes that need a RECIPE REHAB! Everything from your mom's meatloaf to your kid's favorite dessert -- let me lighten it up.

Celebrity dietitian and motivational life coach, Tanya Zuckerbrot, author of www.ffactordiet.com and founder of www.skinnyandthecity.com, has helped thousands of people lose weight and keep it off with her program. Her philosophy? Tanya believes you should never sacrifice taste, even when you're eating healthy foods. Have a recipe in need of rehab? Send us your recipe!