Did everyone have a nice Valentine’s Day? Aaron and I did. While we didn’t do anything extravagant, we made it special. If you read my post on Monday, you saw that we started our day off with some warm cinnamon rolls. I was able to get a run in on the Peloton after I finished working for the day so I could get started on our Valentine’s Day meal. It was simple, because the last thing I wanted to do was spend a ton of time in the kitchen.
Remember these from my Costco trip a week ago? I decided these would make the perfect V-day meal. I roasted some Brussel sprouts and added some garlic bread.
Aaron also picked up some flowers, which was so sweet of him. Ladies, find you a man who still – five years in – can make you feel special.
We exchanged cards and ended the evening with some chocolate-covered strawberries that I picked up at H-E-B on Sunday.
Whether you love Valentine’s Day, hate it – or are neutral about it, I hope that you found small ways throughout the day to celebrate.
Healthier Banana Bread
I’ve talked a bit lately about making healthier switches in my kitchen. One example of that is switching out regular chicken broth for chicken bone broth, which has a bit more protein. I’ve also been experimenting by swapping out sugar with coconut sugar and flour with almond meal – or spelt. When I’ve run marathons and half marathons, nutrition can be half my battle.
I’ve mentioned my struggle with migraines on here before. And, while my migraines don’t have triggers, if I’m depleted following a long training run, I can usually guarantee a pretty bad headache. This stems from not hydrating properly – and not fueling properly. And to me, proper nutrition and hydration can make or break a race for me. If a bad headache or a migraine comes on, it’s never a good sign. Ensuring that I’m fueled properly from the beginning is critical.
So, knowing that I have a busy work schedule until the end of March, I knew that I would need some snacks on hand that I could pull together quickly. I had some ripe bananas sitting around, so I figured I could make a loaf and freeze the slices, which could easily be warmed up for an afternoon snack. So, with all of these goals in mind, I set out to find a healthier version of banana bread. I decided to try the recipe from the Run Fast Eat Slow cookbook!
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas (mashed)
- 1 and 1/2 cups spelt flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 stick unsalted butter (melted)
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 chopped walnuts (or other nut of your choice – or no nuts)
- 1/2 cup chopped dates
What are the healthier ingredients?
So, what is spelt flour you ask? Well, it’s actually become quite popular over the last several years, but it lacks some of the luster of kale or chia seeds. It’s an ancient grain found in the wheat family, so you still get the flavor and the nutrition benefits of a whole grain.
How to make healthier banana bread
- Preheat your oven to 350. Grease a loaf pan.
- Combine all of your dry ingredients (spelt flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt)
- Melt your butter and add in your coconut sugar. Mix until combined.
- Add your eggs into your butter and sugar mixture.
- Add the mashed bananas and vanilla into your wet mixture.
- Add the wet ingredients into your dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
- Add in your walnuts and dates (if you are using them).
- Pour the batter into your loaf pan. I always bang my pan on the counter a bit to get out any air and to even it out.
- Pop it into the oven for 50-60 minutes (my oven usually does the trick around 50 minutes).
- Take it out of the oven once a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
I’ve made this same recipe twice now, and it’s a delicious take on banana bread. It has come out perfectly both times. Let it cool, and cut it into slices. Wrap your slices in foil and freeze. When you are ready to eat, microwave the sliced bread for about 30 seconds.
I love this bread because it isn’t too sweet, but the dates and the coconut sugar give it the perfect amount of sweetness. This recipe is worth trying if you are looking for a healthy way to satisfy that sweet tooth.
