Slimmed Down Banana Bread

Banana bread is one of those foods with a deceiving name. Because it starts with "banana," most people automatically assume that it's healthy. What they don't realize is that banana bread is usually closer to being banana cake than anything else, loaded with sugar and butter. With a few simple tweaks, you can serve a lower calorie, healthier version of this classic favorite to bring in the fall. Even better, this recipe is gluten-free!

Yields 9 slices.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups brown rice flour (can use all-purpose flour instead) [Whole Foods - $1.99/lb, $.91 used here]
3 ripe bananas, mashed [Trader Joe's - $.57]
3/4 cup walnuts [Trader Joe's - $5.99 for 1lb, $1.60 used here]
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp ground flaxseed [Bob's Red Mill from Trader Joe's - $2.49 for a 1lb bag, $.07 used here]
2 eggs [$1.49/dozen, $.24 used here]
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce [Mott's Organic from Ralph's - $2 for 6, $.33 used here]
3/4 cup stevia in the raw cup-for-cup [Ralph's - $7.99 for 275g bag, $.73 used here]
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla 
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roughly chop the walnut pieces into small chunks.

• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, flaxseed, and cinnamon with a whisk.
• In a larger bowl, mix together the bananas, eggs, applesauce, stevia, and vanilla until well combined.

• In two batches, mix in the dry ingredients until just incorporated; do not overmix. Fold in the chopped walnuts.

• Pour batter into a prepared loaf pan and bake for 35-45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle. Allow to cool for 5 minutes in pan on wire rack before removing and allowing to cool completely.

Total Cost: $0.45 per serving , $4.45 total



Nutrition Facts per serving: 214 calories, 8.4g fat (0.7g saturated, 0g trans), 41mg cholesterol, 143mg sodium, 30.6g carbohydrates, 3.8g fiber, 6.3g sugar, 6.5g protein, [Vit A 2%, Vit C 6%, Calcium 5%, Iron 7%].