Healthy Twists on the Classic Banana Bread Recipe

11. Golden Keto Banana Bread

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If you’re following the ketogenic diet, bananas and bread are two foods (whether separate or together) you likely swore off when you started the high-fat, low-carb meal plan. Luckily, this tempting recipe from Salt Lake City–based nutritionist Lindsay Cotter is allowed! And you better believe it will satisfy your cravings without throwing your body out of ketosis. (Per serving, you’ll find 5.8 g of net carbs, which is total carbs minus fiber and sugar alcohols.) This golden banana bread gets a low-carb — and gluten-free — spin, thanks to almond and coconut flours subbed in for the all-purpose variety. Turmeric gives this gorgeous loaf its orange-yellow color. The spice is a major source of curcumin, a plant compound noted for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, per a past review. Also in the mix: flaxseed, a superfood that is rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, per a review published in May 2019 in Nutrients.

Nutrition per serving (serves 10–12; 1 slice per serving): 204 calories, 9.7g total fat (2.3g saturated fat), 6.9g protein, 8.5g carbohydrates, 2.7g fiber, 2.3g sugar, 255.1mg sodium

12. Healthy Chocolate Brownie Banana Bread

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At first glance, this fudgy chocolate banana bread from Chicago-based blogger Monique Volz looks too indulgent to be nutritious. Fortunately, that’s not the case! A mix of almond flour and unsweetened cocoa powder replaces plain flour to boost protein content, while mashed bananas and maple syrup provide natural sweetness, thanks to their unrefined sugars. The recipe calls for dark chocolate chips; opt for dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa solids, as this will contain the most heart-healthy flavonols, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. You can also sprinkle in a small handful of your favorite nuts — Volz recommends walnuts or pecans — to add healthy fats and plant-based protein to the loaf. Bonus: This loaf is paleo-friendly, as well as dairy- and gluten-free.

Nutrition per serving (serves 12; 1 slice per serving): 258 calories, 17g total fat (3.9g saturated fat), 7.5g protein, 25.7g carbohydrates, 5.3g fiber, 14.9g sugar




 

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