Peanut Butter Banana Bread: Making Healthier Recipes

This weekend I took a recipe I knew I liked and tweaked it to make it healthier.

My Great Grandmothers Banana Bread Recipe:

Ingredients:
3/4 cups Butter
3 cups Flour
1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 1/2  teaspoon Baking Soda
1 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 cup Sugar
4 Eggs
4 over-ripe Bananas
3/4 cup Walnuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350
Mix butter, eggs and sugar
Mash bananas and add salt, baking soda and vanilla
Mix everything together
Bake for 1 hour
Makes 2 loaves

Nutrient Facts:

Grandma Helen's Banana Bread Portions: 20 (2 loaves)
Limits	Amount Per Portion
Total Calories	232 Calories
Empty Calories*	99 Calories
Added Sugars	57 Calories
*Calories from food components such as added sugars and solid fats that provide little nutritional value.
Empty Calories are part of Total Calories.
Nutrients	Amount Per Portion
Protein	4 g
Carbohydrate	35 g
Dietary Fiber	1 g
Total Sugars	18 g
Added Sugars	14 g
Total Fat	9 g
Saturated Fat	3 g
Monounsaturated Fat	2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	3 g
Cholesterol	55 mg
Minerals	Amount Per Portion
Calcium	15 mg
Potassium	140 mg
Sodium	288 mg
Copper	129 µg
Phosphorus	61 mg
Vitamins	Amount Per Portion
Vitamin A	53 µg RAE
Vitamin C	2 mg
Vitamin K	1 µg
Folate	67 µg DFE
Choline	27 mg

My Vegan Peanut Butter Banana Bread:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Unflavored Almond Milk
3 cups Flour
1 teaspoon Salt
2  teaspoon Baking Soda
2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1  cup Brown Sugar (1/4 cup to sprinkle for crust)
6 Brown, over-ripe Bananas
1 cup Peanut Butter

Directions:
Mix everything together

Bake for 1 hour at 350
Makes 2 loaves

Nutrient Facts:

Vegan PB Banana Bread Portions: 20 (2 Loaves)
Limits	Amount Per Portion
Total Calories	213 Calories
Empty Calories*	39 Calories
Added Sugars	36 Calories
*Calories from food components such as added sugars and solid fats that provide little nutritional value.
Empty Calories are part of Total Calories.
Nutrients	Amount Per Portion
Protein	6 g
Carbohydrate	34 g
Dietary Fiber	2 g
Total Sugars	15 g
Added Sugars	9 g
Total Fat	7 g
Saturated Fat	1 g
Monounsaturated Fat	3 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	2 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Minerals	Amount Per Portion
Calcium	28 mg
Potassium	260 mg
Sodium	296 mg
Copper	290 µg
Iron	3 mg
Magnesium	63 mg
Phosphorus	71 mg
Vitamins	Amount Per Portion
Vitamin A	156 µg RAE
Vitamin C	3 mg
Vitamin E	6 mg AT
Vitamin K	0 µg
Folate	122 µg DFE
Niacin	3 mg
Choline	14 mg
www.SuperTracker.usda.gov

Analysis: By switching the butter and eggs in the original recipe for almond milk and extra bananas, my vegan version is much healthier. With fewer calories, less saturated fat and no cholesterol, my version also contains more protein, calcium and vitamin A than my great grandmothers recipe.

Vegan Brownies

Recipe for Delicious Vegan Brownies:
1 1/2 cups Flour
1 cup Sugar
1/3 cup Cocoa Powder
3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
1/3 cup Oil
1 cup Almond Milk

Bake at 350F for 30-45 minutes

Some of the Ingredients:

Finished Brownies:

Nutrient Analysis:

Vegan Brownies Portions: 8 Large Brownies
Food Groups	Amount Per Portion
Grains	1½ ounce(s)
Refined Grains	1½ ounce(s)
Oils	3 teaspoon
Limits	Amount Per Portion
Total Calories	318 Calories
Empty Calories*	98 Calories
Solid Fats	3 Calories
Added Sugars	95 Calories
Nutrients	Amount Per Portion
Protein	3 g
Carbohydrate	46 g
Dietary Fiber	2 g
Total Sugars	27 g
Added Sugars	24 g
Total Fat	14 g
Saturated Fat	2 g
Monounsaturated Fat	10 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	2 g
Calcium	85 mg
Potassium	90 mg
Sodium	241 mg
Copper	150 µg
Iron	2 mg
Magnesium	21 mg
Phosphorus	62 mg

Remember, you can do your own nutrient analysis of your recipes or daily diet at SuperTracker.USDA.gov

Chunky Vegetarian Chili

I love this recipe. It's fairly easy and delicious. I usually cook chili in my small crock pot, but I have tried it on the stove top as well with great results. If you wanted to mix it up you could add other veggies or meat. This recipe is high in protein and fiber.

Recipe:
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
11/2 Tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 16oz can of stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 15oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

Preperation:
1. Start by heating the oil and sautee the onion, peppers and garlic for about 5 minutes
2. Add tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes
3. add sugar, cumin, oregano, salt, black pepper and beans. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for about 30 minutes.


*When I use my crockpot, I add everything to the pot and cook it for 2-3 hours for a more baked in flavor. I've noticed a slight difference in flavor cooking it this way. The chili is also more liquidy than the stove top version. I also like to add red pepper flakes for more spice.

Nutrition Facts: Chili Portions: 4
Nutrition Facts:	Amount Per Portion
Total Calories	199 Calories
Added Sugars	14 Calories
Nutrients	Amount Per Portion
Protein	8 g
Carbohydrate	35 g
Dietary Fiber	9 g
Total Sugars	9 g
Added Sugars	3 g
Total Fat	5 g
Saturated Fat	1 g
Monounsaturated Fat	3 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	1 g
Minerals	Amount Per Portion
Calcium	130 mg
Potassium	775 mg
Sodium	512 mg
Copper	405 µg
Iron	5 mg
Magnesium	68 mg
Phosphorus	162 mg
Selenium	6 µg
Zinc	1 mg
Vitamins	Amount Per Portion
Vitamin A	63 µg RAE
Vitamin B6	0.4 mg
Vitamin C	91 mg
Vitamin E	3 mg AT
Vitamin K	14 µg