Healthy Eats – Food Network Healthy Living Blog: Food Network's Healthy Eats: Healthy Recipes, Weight Loss Tips & Nutrition Information

The year is coming to a close, and you know what that means: It’s resolution time! Whether you resolve to reach a specific goal or just eat better overall, I have a delicious recipe that will help you kick-start 2011: Banana bread!  This high-protein, low-fat version is one of my favorite go-to snacks or quick breakfasts.

The Swaps
Just because banana bread has the word “banana” in it doesn’t magically cancel out the bread part.  Classic banana bread has up to a cup of butter or oil! In my version, I cut out almost all the fat and all of the flour for a nutrient-packed treat.

Herb’s High-Protein Banana Bread
Makes: 1 loaf

Ingredients:
Two sweet potatoes, baked
4 egg whites
4 ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Scoop flesh from sweet potatoes into a large bowl and discard skins.  Mix all remaining ingredients and pour into a loaf pan greased with cooking spray. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Nutrition Info Per Serving (1/10 of loaf)
Calories: 90
Total Fat: 0.5 grams
Saturated Fat: 0 grams
Total Carbohydrate: 18 grams
Protein: 4 grams
Sodium: 41 milligrams
Cholesterol: 3.5 milligrams
Fiber: 2 grams

Next Food Network Star season 6 finalist Herb Mesa is a restaurant-trained chef, a self-taught healthy cuisine chef and a certified personal trainer. Herb teaches “balance through food and fitness,” and works as a personal chef and trainer in Atlanta.

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