A dietitian has shared the five-ingredient healthy banana bread she swears by for beating sugar cravings – and it’s as easy to make as the unhealthier three-ingredient counterpart.
Leanne Ward, 31, from Brisbane, said when she saw the three-ingredient banana bread recipe on Facebook comprising bananas, condensed milk and flour, she wanted to make her own version that wasn’t ‘all carbs but just as filling’.
Setting to work in her kitchen, the 31-year-old came up with her own variation on the classic.
A dietitian has shared the five-ingredient healthy banana bread she swears by for beating sugar cravings (Leanne’s five-ingredient banana bread pictured)
Leanne (pictured) said when she saw the three-ingredient banana bread recipe on Facebook comprising bananas, condensed milk and flour, she wanted to make her own version that wasn’t ‘all carbs but just as filling’
‘I added protein, healthy fats and fibre from the addition of the protein powder and chia seeds to help stabilise those blood sugar levels a little and provide more satiety,’ Leanne wrote on Instagram.
So how do you make her banana bread?
Firstly, Leanne said you’ll need to get your hands on four medium bananas, one tin of sweetened condensed milk, 2.5 cups of self-raising wholemeal flour, three quarters of a cup of honeycomb protein powder and some chia seeds.
The protein powder and self-raising wholemeal flour will help to keep you fuller for longer, while chia seeds are an excellent source of fibre and antioxidants for your diet.
How to make Leanne Ward’s five-ingredient banana bread
Leanne’s banana bread recipe uses protein powder, wholemeal flour and chia seeds for added health benefits (pictured)
INGREDIENTS
Four medium mashed bananas (3.5 for the loaf and 0.5 for the top)
One tin of sweetened condensed milk
2.5 cups of self-raising wholemeal flour
3/4 cup of honeycomb protein powder
1/4 cup of chia seeds
METHOD
1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and line a loaf tin with baking paper.
2. In a large bowl, mash 3.5 medium bananas (reserving half a banana split long ways for the top of the loaf).
3. In a separate small bowl, add the flour, protein powder and chia seeds. Stir to combine. A teaspoon of cinnamon is optional.
4. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredient bowl and stir gently to combine, but be careful not to over mix.
5. Pour the batter into the lined baking tin and press down the half banana on top of the batter.
6. Bake in the oven until browned on top and cooked through (roughly 25-30 minutes).
7. Remove from the oven, allow to cool, slice and store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge.
Source: Leanne Ward
Then, follow Leanne’s seven simple steps (above) and store your banana bread in an airtight container in the fridge.
‘I love how simple this is – and it’s good for you!’ one person commented beneath the recipe.
‘Need to try this! Overripe bananas are piling up in my fridge and need something healthy to do with them!’ another added.
Leanne (pictured) said she is beating boredom eating in isolation by eating more meals than you would expect, but filled with healthy foods
The dietitian also shared how you can take control of your eating in coronavirus isolation, and stop binge eating unnecessarily (pictured: why you can’t stop eating in isolation)
The dietitian also shared how you can take control of your eating during the coronavirus isolation, and stop binge eating unnecessarily.
‘A lot of the time we mistake non-hungry eating (or what I call head hunger) for true hunger. It’s not,’ Leanne said.
During the lockdown, she said you might have found yourself eating for reasons that you wouldn’t usually – be they stress, loneliness or anxiety.
‘Food makes us feel better because we’ve conditioned ourselves over time to know this,’ she said.
While the dietitian acknowledged that the vast majority of people might be working in a different environment and are surrounded by much more food than normal, she also said you need to be strict with yourself but not draconian.
‘Restricting foods means you crave them more – it’s a known fact, so stop starting a new diet each Monday and start eating well for life,’ Leanne said.
‘Proper satiety’ comes from building decent meals, she added.
You should be aiming for half a plate of vegetables, a quarter of lean protein, a quarter of starchy carbs or wholegrains and a dollop of fat by way of some olive oil or avocado.
Leanne said she is beating the boredom eating by eating more small meals filled with these ideal quantities.
Leanne (pictured) said she is also stopping herself from over-eating in isolation by making sure she gets eight hours sleep a night and avoiding too much alcohol
Elsewhere, Leanne said if you practice good sleep hygiene and aim for at least 7.5-8 hours a night, you will feel instantly better and less hungry.
‘It’s worth remembering alcohol also makes you feel hungrier,’ she said.
‘So if you’ve been knocking back one too many drinks in iso, it might be time to replace the wine with water if you want to get a handle on your cravings.’
To read more from Leanne Ward, you can visit her website here.