Healthy Twists on the Classic Banana Bread Recipe

Put an autumnal twist on your banana bread by mixing in mashed pumpkin, which, like banana, adds a touch of natural sweetness. Beyond the delicious taste of this fall staple, pumpkin offers a boost of antioxidants from beta-carotene (aka the component that gives fruit and veggies their red and orange color, per an article in Molecules). Beta-carotene is linked with a reduced risk of cataracts and nighttime blindness, according to a past meta-analysis. Fittingly, this recipe comes from Chicago-based Maggie Michalczyk, RDN, founder of the blog Once Upon a Pumpkin.

Nutrition per serving (serves 12; 1 slice per serving): 175 calories, 10g total fat (2.2g saturated fat), 7g protein, 15g carbohydrates, 2.4g fiber, 4.4g sugar (0g added sugar), 185mg sodium

If you’re preparing banana bread for breakfast, you’ll want to choose a recipe that’ll fill you up and keep your energy level steady till lunch. This recipe, from Judy Barbe, RDN, a culinary dietitian based in Casper, Wyoming, is packed with protein (from the yogurt, per the USDA) and fiber, and fits that bill. The addition of prunes naturally sweetens the recipe while increasing the fiber in your slice, the USDA notes. And, because prunes may help prevent bone loss, as a past study suggests, this recipe can do more than just make your taste buds happy.

Nutrition per serving (serves 12; 1 slice per serving): 235 calories, 8g total fat (1.3g saturated fat), 6g protein, 36g carbohydrates, 2.7g fiber, 13.8g sugar (8.1g added sugar), 201mg sodium