Put Bananas to Work in Your Kitchen

Bananas may be one of the most versatile fruits available. They are a natural alternative to sugar to sweeten desserts, are easily digestible, and come in their own easy-to-open container.

You can slice up fresh bananas to enhance your breakfast cereal, yogurt and on-the-go smoothies. They are also good frozen for fruit smoothies and shakes.

Bananas are a source of natural sugars and carbohydrates, which help provide sustained energy. Its fiber slows digestion and gives the body time to use it as fuel instead of storing it as fat.

They’re powerhouses when it comes to nutrition, too. Just one banana has 35 percent of the daily recommended B-6, which helps with cell growth. In addition, it offers nearly 10 percent of the recommended daily value for potassium and other important vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, magnesium, manganese and copper.

One of the most popular ways to bake with bananas is bread. Banana bread was the creation of thrifty housewives during the Great Depression who had to stretch their family’s food supplies, including utilizing overly ripe bananas. Recipes have evolved over the years to include different ingredients, such as adding in nuts, chocolate chips and flavorings like almond.

Go Bananas!

This nut bread recipe offers a twist on the classic recipe by adding a coconut cream topping. For additional recipes, visit chiquita.com.

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