How healthy is store bought banana bread? with a base of bananas, you may think it’s healthy and in some cases that is true. While many store-bought banana breads are packed with calories, added sugar and saturated fat, some are healthier because of the ingredients.

Pureed banana is a perfect egg replacer and it’s a natural sweetener with fibre, vitamins and minerals. Refined white wheat flour will spike your blood sugar level and leave you hungry for more so the ancient grain, wheat spelt flour is a health-giving option that contains fibre and B vitamins. For a gluten-free option, use nutritious almond flour, though the cooking time will be different. Extras like dark chocolate chips aren’t ideal but are incredibly decadent and great for a special brunch with friends, yet on ordinary days a handful of walnuts for brain-boosting fats, or raspberries or blueberries for extra natural sweetness, are healthier options.

Health benefits:

·     Bananas contain a fair amount of fibre and aid with digestion.

DARK CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD

PB, V, SF, DF, GF

3 cups (320 g) spelt flour or GF flour

1 tsp (3 g) baking powder

1 tsp (3 g) ground cinnamon

1 tsp (3 g) ground cardamom

pinch of sea salt

½ cup (125 ml.) plant milk

1 cup (170 g) dark chocolate chips

4 bananas, mashed to a puree

1 banana, sliced in half

Preheat the oven to 180’C/350’F. Line a loaf tin with baking paper. Sift the dry ingredient into a bowl. Add the wet ingredients, except the extra banana, and mix until combined. Pour the batter into the lined loaf tin and place banana halves on top of the batter, press the banana halves partialy into mixture and smear a little olive oil on top of each banana slice. Bake for 50-60 minutes. OR pour the batter into a 23 cm cake tin and bake for 45-55 minutes.

Serve alone or with dollops of coconut yogurt.