banana-related stories
Banana French Toast
Recipe Rehab with Tanya Zuckerbrot, Nutrition & Supplements
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. Send us an email to reciperehab [AT] thatsfit [DOT] com to submit a recipe for a makeover!
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| Recipe may vary from photograph. Photo: juiterimages |
Nothing says brunch like warm, chewy French toast dripping with maple syrup. Although, with a typical serving -- containing over 600 calories and and 36 grams of fat -- it's far from the healthiest option if you are concerned about your families' nutrition. So I set out to tackle this brunch staple and came up with a recipe that's a hit with adults and kids alike.
If your kids are like my kids, they don't want any bread other than white. However, once cooked, any bread looks brown, making this switch much simpler. Swapping white bread for whole wheat bread bumps up the fiber content and helps to keep you feeling full all morning long. Furthermore, by replacing whole eggs and milk with egg whites and skim milk, you're still getting protein and calcium, but with half the calories and fat.
My Banana French Toast has become a regular in my house, with my husband, 6-year-old son and 3-year-old twin daughters. This recipe couldn't be easier and best of all -- it's so delicious, no one realizes how healthy it is!
Tanya's Tip: Don't like bananas? I've made this with strawberries and blueberries, and it was just as delicious!
Potassium - Best Food Sources for a Better Diet
I was a cheerleader back in my high school days. When my squad was training for competitions, we really worked out long and hard. Many times, the muscles in our legs would visibly shake with strain. Our coach, restricted from recommending vitamins or anything of that sort, always brought bananas with her to practice to help us with muscle weakness and muscle cramps. Bananas aren't my favorite fruit, but I have to admit that they helped.While bananas are a decent source of potassium, there are many other options. Potassium-rich foods are important for your diet. Not only do they help with muscle cramps, but they can also have a positive effect on blood pressure. Good sources include:
- Avocado
- Baked potato with skin
- Edamame
- Papaya
- Sweet potato
- Salmon
- Tomato sauce
- Winter squash
- Cantaloupe
- Dried apricots
Susan Sarandon Has a Cookie Craving
Susan Sarandon is a fantastic actor, a terrific mom and an all-around good role model for young Hollywood starlets. And, at 62, she look phenomenal, don't you think? People magazine recently talked to the iconic actress about her eating habits, and it turns out she has one that few other stars would admit to indulging in: Cookies. When she's craving something sweet, Sarandon reportedly munches on a few of her favourite banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, made for her by natural foods chef and star of The Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel. But seeing as they're full of healthy ingredients like vegan dark chocolate, whole oats and walnuts, she shouldn't feel too guilty.
Walking the Walk - Day 5
Day 5: You might be asking yourself: Why doesn't she just eat sugar-free foods instead? It seems like a logical choice for a sugar hound like myself, get the good stuff, without all the calories.For one, I don't like artificial sweeteners, not the idea of them or their taste. But more importantly, this week isn't about finding a loophole for feeding my sugar addiction; it's about training my body to enjoy foods that are naturally sweet. Every step I take toward a healthier diet is a step away from highly processed foods and toward whole, more natural choices.
So when I really, really crave something sweet, I reach for a banana. It's smooth and creamy and has plenty of naturally occurring sugars. Best of all, it's only 80 calories and full of potassium.
Resistant Starch May Be One Carb Not to Resist
To be effective for weight loss, most foods that contain resistant starch need to be cooked then cooled. For example, beans, barley, corn, potatoes, and brown rice need to be cooked and then cooled for the resistant starch to form. Reheating destroys the resistant starch. The one exception is bananas which should be eaten raw.
Vital Juice Daily has two recipes that are high in resistant starch:
Japanese have gone bananas -- for Morning Banana Diet
The Japanese love their fad diets, and a new one has taken the country by storm. The Morning Banana Diet has become so popular due to recent publicity that grocery stores across Japan are sold out of bananas, according to recent reports from banana importers. What's all the hype about? Here's a run-down of the diet:
- You eat a raw, unfrozen banana for breakfast.
- You can eat whatever you want for lunch and dinner, even fried foods. However, dessert is prohibited. You must eat dinner before 8 pm.
- At 3 pm, you can have a sweet snack, like chocolates or cookies. You can have something healthier, but if you want chocolate, don't deny yourself.
Daily Fit Tip: Stick to your guns
Daily Fit Tip, Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
Daily Fit Tip: Freeze it
Popular fruits pack nutrition
My son started soccer practice last night and we were both so happy. There's a lull over the summer months where my son doesn't have any organized sports in season, and we both miss it terribly. But last night, I remembered what a time crunch it is planning for meals when there are practices to consider.My son and I usually eat dinner at 7 p.m. -- smack in the middle of his soccer practice. It's too early for us to eat dinner before practice, so I like to make sure my son has a healthy snack before to keep him energized and curb his hunger during practice. We don't get too creative with the snacks, either. A piece of fruit -- usually an apple or a banana -- is my son's pre-practice snack of choice.
According to Healthcastle, the plain-Jane popular fruits pack a powerful nutritional punch. Check out the gallery to see the details.
4 yummy mocktails safe for pregnancy
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
Who says pregnant women can't enjoy a drink now and then? Well... doctors for one. And study, upon study, upon study supports that fact. Alcohol is a no-no while pregnant. Though I have heard some women say their doctors told them a few ounces of wine once or twice a week wouldn't hurt, if I were pregnant I wouldn't risk taking a drop of alcohol. But you can still enjoy a fancy mocktail at parties or while relaxing on your patio. Here are a few options:- Post-Sex on the Beach. Orange juice, cranberry juice, peach nectar, and grenadine combine for a non-alcoholic version of an old favorite.
- Chunky Monkey. So maybe you won't catch Carrie Bradshaw drinking this one; it's so delish, who cares if it's trendy? Just blend a banana, low-fat milk, and some chocolate syrup.
- Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice. A brandy-less version of a hot toddy, this drink combines warmed apple cider, cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, imitation brandy extract, and brown sugar.
- Virgin Margarita. With this tasty blend of sour mix, lime juice, and orange juice, you won't even miss the tequila.
How about a beetle with your banana?
Fitz and I both recently wrote about the purposeful and not-so-purposeful human consumption of bugs. Bugs are apparently a hot topic. More big bug news follows.When I say "big," I mean BIG. Like 11 centimeters long big. Like hamster big.
A huge beetle was just found in London, on a boat delivering bananas from Costa Rica to South America. Animal experts have identified the bug as a male elephant beetle -- an endangered species from the rainforests. They're calling him "Bill" and have taken him to a zoo in Cambridge.
Bill has conquered one amazing feat: He traveled thousands of miles and was probably sprayed with a multitude of chemicals to ward off insects. And he survived. He was rescued just in time. Good thing for him -- the poor guy would have eventually been frozen along with the fruit on his journey -- and good thing for humans since one of could have one day discovered Bill amongst our bundle of bananas.
4 reasons to fire up your grill
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
Every time I wander outdoors and smell the aroma of BBQ chicken or burgers or sausage wafting through the neighborhood air, I want to slap something on my backyard grill and simulate the smells that send my taste buds soaring. We do grill a lot at our house -- we have the pleasure of doing it year-round here in Florida -- but we don't tend to cook with much variety. We grill chicken, and we grill salmon, but we don't venture out too much more than that. How about you?If you're feeling stuck this grilling season, flip through that Parade magazine that may have arrived with your newspaper this morning. What you'll find are a few methods for spicing up your tired and predictable outdoor menu. Check out four exciting dishes, including Grilled Whole Trout, Bacon Swiss Burger, Meatloaf in an Onion, and a Banana Boat. Featured in video format, you can watch these items come to life -- with enough time to get to the store, get some ingredients, and get cooking by dinner time.
Bon Appetit!
Fitz's Bapaloneo Pops: A perfectly healthy summer snack
Healthy Habits, Healthy Home, Vegetarian, Womens Health, Healthy Recipes, Healthy Kids, Cellulite, Obesity, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
The other day, while hosting over a dozen of my children's playgroup friends here at my house for some outdoor fun....I created a frozen treat guaranteed to fill their little tummies up in a completely nutritious and fun way. Bapaloneo (a weird word my three and five year old children made up) Pops served the purpose I had intended and energized the group for several hours of insanity. Try them this summer.
- Cut bananas in half length-wise, and stick a popsicle stick in the flat end.
- Coat the banana with creamy peanut butter.
- Roll the peanut butter coated banana in a bowl of regular cheerios.
- Place pops on a pan covered with freezer paper and then put them in the freezer for an hour or so.
Weight Loss Quick Tip: Change 5 meals a week
Healthy Habits, Vegetarian, Vitamins and Supplements, Womens Health, Healthy Recipes, Healthy Kids, Cellulite, Obesity, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Reviews & Products, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
An easy way to lose weight is to include more fruits and vegetables in your diet. Produce is famous for jamming massive amounts of vitamins, nutrients and fiber into very few calories. With most produce, you can consume lots of food for a very low caloric price. More bang for your buck that is!
I ask my personal training clients to try to include at least five meals per week consisting of pure produce. No meat. No grains. Most folks eat at least 21 meals per week, so this five meal plan doesn't deter anyone from getting enough protein. What it does do though, is get them to try new fruits and learn new ways to turn veggies into a meal.
Another benefit to this effort is that by keeping a few meals to just produce, you will more than likely be cutting quite a bit of calories out of the day. Over time, the more you rely on fruits and vegetables for snacks and meals, the more likely you'll be to achieve and maintain your ideal weight.
How do you eat bananas?
Vegetarian, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements
- Throw it in a smoothie. Browning bananas are much better-tasting in a smoothie than green or yellow ones. I throw it in with some vanilla yogurt and a touch of chocolate sauce -- it's oh-so-delicious.
- Slice it and have it with some granola or cereal.
- Much it up and spread it on toast, with some peanut butter if you like.
Afraid of bananas? Don't be--they have plenty of heart-healthy nutrients and aren't too high in calories either -- a medium one has 103 calories.
