What to do with those
Ripe-right-now Bananas!
Diet culture has given them a bad rap for years,
but are they really that bad?!
by Melanie Tran
We always talk about eating a balanced diet but that can feel difficult and overwhelming. We’re all looking to keep things simple so we thought that we’d highlight one food item that is easy to find, easy to buy in bulk, easy to store, easy to use, and full of health benefits: BANANAS!
Diet culture has always given bananas a bad rap, but in reality, that is simply not the case! They are full of vitamins, minerals, and even fiber. Do bananas have sugar? Yes, but like other whole fruits, the natural sugars found in bananas are a fantastic source of fuel for our bodies. In fact, bananas are a great source of energy before a workout!
Benefits of Bananas:
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Fiber: roughly 3 grams per banana which is 10% of your daily intake!
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Potassium: helps regulate fluid balance in your body which can help lower blood pressure.
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Vitamins B6 + C: important in the growth, development and repair of our body’s tissues and also helpful to our immune system.
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Digestion: bananas contain prebiotics which feed the helpful probiotics that live in our gut. They’ve been shown to improve digestion and help relieve gastrointestinal stress.
Five Things To Do With Ripe Bananas:
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Banana Oatmeal Cookies: add mashed bananas to your favorite oatmeal cookie recipe.
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Banana “Nice” Cream: blend frozen bananas with a small amount of milk (non-dairy works too!) for a yummy soft serve treat.
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Banana Smoothie: frozen or not, bananas are a great addition to your smoothies.
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Frozen Banana + Peanut Butter Sandwiches: before freezing, cut bananas into bite sized pieces, add a smear of peanut butter to create mini sandwiches, put in freezer for an easy snack.
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Two Ingredient Banana Pancakes: bananas and eggs are all you need to make this delicious breakfast!
Remember, eating balanced doesn’t mean eating “healthy” every single day. Rather, your day should consist of whole foods like fresh fruit and veggies, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats, with a sprinkling of your favorite treats!