Skinny Banana Bread w/ Chia Seed

 

I have my new banana bread recipe from here on out.  I am a sucker for banana bread, but I know it is usually made with a lot of butter and a lot of sugar.  This one I made has:

• No butter (used applesauce and coconut oil)
• No white sugar (used agave nectar)
• Chia seeds
• and is whole wheat

And this is why I have named this… “Skinny” Banana Bread!

Applesauce is great substitute for butter when making quick breads, but if you substitute 1 for 1, it doesn’t always come out that great.  In addition to the applesauce, I chose to use a little bit of coconut oil.  According to the Huffington post and Dr. Oz, although coconut oil is made of majority saturated fats, the “bad fats”, studies have found that coconut oil has amazing health benefits:

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

• Disease fighter:  50% of the saturated fat is lauric acid, a type of medium chain triglyceride (MCT).  This is a “miracle” fat because of its health benefiting properties.  Your body coverts lauric acid into monolaurin, which has an anti-viral and anti-bacterial effect.  It is claimed to help with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, and even HIV.

• Lowers cholesterol: Lauric acid also increases the good HDL cholesterol in the blood to help improve cholesterol ratio levels (whereas vegetable oils increase LDL levels).  This will keep your heart happy!

• Boost your thyroid and metabolism:  these MCT’s mentioned above are easier to digest/breakdown than long chain triglycerides (found in vegetable oils).  Your liver can burn these fats extremely efficiently, without the insulin spike, and therefore increase your metabolism.  You can burn your fat, instead of storing it!

• Hair and skin care:  when applied directly to the skin, it serves as a great moisturizer and conditioner.

I also used Chia seeds.  You might remember my Superfood Spotlight on Chia Seeds a few weeks back.  These little wonders will add omega 3’s, protein, fiber, and calcium! Check the post for more health benefits.

And lastly, they were whole wheat!  Here is my post on why whole grains are better for you.

They sound so healthy, which is why I was hesitant on how good they would taste.  But these passed the test of my roommates and co-workers.  We all loved them!  What else would I do with these ripe bananas?

Skinny Banana Bread (w/ Chia Seeds and Nuts)
Makes 20 regular-sized muffins

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup wheat bran
• 1.5 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup agave nectar
• 4 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1.5 T coconut oil
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Optional Topping:

• 2 tsp cinammon
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• Walnuts, chopped

Cocoa Chia Energy Bites