Healthy banana bread.

Have some leftover bananas and are not sure what to do with them? Why not make this super healthy, no-added-sugar banana bread recipe? This version is low in calories compared to traditional recipes, making it a great snack, dessert, or breakfast on the go!

Ingredients

• 100 g apples – cored and finely grated (peeled if preferred) 
• 300 g very ripe bananas (the darker the better) 
• 2 eggs 
• 100 g wholemeal flour 
• 100 g buckwheat flour 
• 16 g baking powder 
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 50 g chopped walnuts 
• 10 extra walnut halves for decoration 
• Extra virgin olive oil for greasing 

Swaps: 

• If you don’t have apples, you can also use 100 g apple puree with no added sugar. 
• If you don’t have walnuts, you can easily use almonds, hazelnuts, pecans etc.  

How to make it:    

1. Prep oven and tin: preheat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan/ gas mark 4. Lightly grease a loaf tin with olive oil. 
2. Prep fruit:  Mash the bananas with a fork so there are no chunks. Add in the grated apple and mix. 
3. Mix wet ingredients: add the two eggs to the apple-banana mixture and beat until foamy with an electric hand mixer. 
4. Mix dry ingredients: in a separate bowl, mix the wholemeal flour, buckwheat flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. 
5. Combine and add nuts: add the dry ingredients to the banana-apple-egg mixture. Mix everything briefly but well. Finally, add the chopped walnuts and mix again. 
6. Bake: pour the mixture into the prepared loaf tin. Decorate with the walnut halves and press them into the mixture. 
7. Bake for about 35 minutes. Test the bread with a skewer or toothpick; if not ready, place back in the oven for another 3-5 minutes or until done. 
8. Cool: leave to cool in the tin for 5-10 minutes before turning it out and letting it cool down completely before cutting it. 

Why your body will thank you: 

This recipe is designed to be a healthier treat, supporting weight management and a fibre-rich diet: 

• Low in calories: this banana bread is low in calories, especially compared to other banana bread made with butter and sugar. This can help maintain a healthy weight. Being obese or overweight increases breast cancer risk in men and postmenopausal women. 
• Whole grains and fibre: wholemeal and buckwheat flour have a higher fibre content than all-purpose white flour.  A diet high in fibre is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer and good gut health. 
• Healthy fats: walnuts are high in polyunsaturated fats, which, when eaten in place of foods high in saturated or trans fats, may help reduce breast cancer risk. 
• No added sugar: the bread is sweetened naturally by very ripe bananas and the addition of apple. A diet low in sugar helps maintain a healthy weight, which in turn can lower your breast cancer risk. 

Your turn: 

Make this healthy banana bread, snap a picture, and share it with us on social media @breastcanceruk. We love seeing your creations! 

And if you enjoyed this recipe, you’ll love our free e-book, Organic Flavours, packed with more wholesome, organic recipes. Download it today and start exploring new ways to nourish your body. What are you waiting for? Get cooking.