Bananas are the most popular fruit in the world. This may be a little bit surprising, since they are a tropical fruit that doesn’t grow in most places. They don’t grow in most of the United States, but the average American eats 26 pounds of bananas each year.
Bananas are a fresh fruit that is available all year, so they’re especially valuable in the winter when fresh fruit is less plentiful.
Are bananas nutritious?
Bananas contain no fat, but they have 1 gram of protein, 28 grams of carbohydrates (that’s two servings, officially), no added sugar, 3 grams of fiber, and 450 mg potassium. That makes them a good source potassium, an important mineral. They also contain Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, and resistant starch, which can help prevent blood sugar spikes.
So yes, bananas are nutritious.
Banana recipes
Banana Bread
- 3/4 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 2 beaten eggs
- 1 1⁄4 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Cream together sugar and butter. Add mashed banana and beaten eggs. Mix in baking powder. Stir in flour and then nuts. Pour into a greased loaf pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes, till a knife put into the middle of the loaf comes out clean.
Banana Blender Pancakes
- 2 ripe bananas
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Whiz the ingredients up in the blender. Heat a skillet or griddle. Spray with nonstick baking spray. Test heat by dropping a few drops of water on the pan — if they sizzle, it’s ready.
Pour batter onto the pan. When bubbles form and pop, pancakes are ready to turn over. Serve with warmed berries.