Homemade banana nut bread.
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Losing weight requires you to cut back on calories, but this doesn't mean sticking to celery sticks and broiled chicken until you reach your goal. An occasional treat, such as a slice of homemade banana-nut bread, won't make or break your entire diet. No one food will cause you to gain weight unless you eat too much of it. When you do get a hankering for banana-nut bread, seek out recipes that cut back on the sugar and fat to make this tasty quick bread a little more diet-friendly.
Banana Bread Nutrition
Although banana-nut bread contains bananas and nuts -- two foods generally considered healthy -- traditional recipes usually contain saturated fats and up to a cup of sugar. One slice of banana-nut bread may contain as many as 543 calories and 25 grams of fat. If you're trying to eat between 1,200 and 1,500 calories per day -- an often recommended number for weight loss -- this slice amounts to between 36 and 45 percent of your total daily calories.
It's About the Calories
Dropping a few pounds requires you to restrict your calorie intake. If you can manage to burn 250 to 500 calories more than you consume daily, you'll lose 0.5 to 1 pound over the course of a week. Usually, a combination of eating fewer calories and exercising more creates this deficit. One way to easily cut calories is to remove foods that have a lot of sugar, refined flour and minimal nutrition from your meal plans. Many recipes for banana-nut bread fall into this category of empty calories. Prepackaged versions of banana-nut bread are even more likely to be full of added sugars and unhealthy fats that can be a diet disaster.
Periodic Treats
A slice of homemade banana-nut bread straight out of the oven once in a while might just satisfy a craving so you don't feel overly deprived. A study published in an issue of "Psychosomatic Medicine" in 2010 showed that a strict low-calorie diet can increase a dieter's stress levels, causing him to pump out more of the hormone cortisol, which may encourage fat storage. If you do choose to add banana bread in occasionally, bake a healthier version by replacing half of the white flour with whole wheat and half of the oil with applesauce. In most recipes, you can also reduce the sugar by one-quarter to one-third with little impact on the bread's taste or texture, or use a low-calorie sugar substitute made especially for baking. If you use super mushy brown bananas, their natural sweetness may mean you can skip the sugar altogether. This may change the texture of the bread slightly and leave it with just a hint of sweetness, though.
Nutrition and Hunger
Fitting in all the necessary nutrients when you're cutting calories is a challenge. Spending a large number of your daily allotted calories on banana-nut bread means you'll have less room for nutrient-dense foods such as green vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains and lean protein. These foods are valuable for dieters because they contain few calories per serving. You can eat lots of them and still stay within your calorie allotment. Banana-nut bread is calorie-dense, meaning it has a lot of calories in a small serving, and may not fill you up adequately. Even if you manage to fit it into your restricted-calorie diet, it could leave you feeling hungry. Eventually, this hunger could lead you to abandon your diet altogether.
FAQs
Banana-nut bread is calorie-dense, meaning it has a lot of calories in a small serving, and may not fill you up adequately. Even if you manage to fit it into your restricted-calorie diet, it could leave you feeling hungry. Eventually, this hunger could lead you to abandon your diet altogether.
Is peanut butter and banana bad for weight loss? ›
The best weight-loss snacks boast filling fiber, protein, and other essential nutrients, such as bananas and peanut butter. Finding healthy snacks is essential to any weight-loss plan. Healthy snacks help keep you full between meals, which prevents overeating and weight gain.
What is unhealthy about banana bread? ›
It's definitely processed, has lots of ingredients (from the Starbucks website: bananas, enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron,thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), sugar, soybean and / or canola oil, eggs, walnuts, pecans, sea salt, sodium bicarbonate, baking powder (sodium acid ...
Is banana nut bread good for your stomach? ›
Bananas are not just rich sources of potassium like most of us initially think of, they also contain manganese, copper, vitamin B6, and pectin which is a type of fiber that may help heal some digestive issues like stomach ulcers and overall improve bowel movements/regularity.
How many calories are in 2 slices of banana nut bread? ›
Bob Evans Desserts, Banana Nut Bread, 2 Slices (1 Order) contains 37g total carbs, 35g net carbs, 22g fat, 5g protein, and 420 calories.
Can I eat banana bread while losing weight? ›
An occasional treat, such as a slice of homemade banana-nut bread, won't make or break your entire diet. No one food will cause you to gain weight unless you eat too much of it.
Does eating a spoonful of peanut butter before bed help lose weight? ›
Eating a small amount of peanut butter as part of a healthy snack before bed may help improve sleep quality and prevent overeating and weight gain the following day. Peanut butter is a nutrient-dense, high-calorie food containing vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber.
How fattening is banana nut bread? ›
Nutrition summary
There are 288 calories in 1 serving of Banana Nut Bread. Calorie split: 25% fat, 69% carbs, 6% protein.
Is banana bread good for bowel movement? ›
Dietary Fiber:
Dietary fibers are known to aid the digestive system and facilitate regular bowel movements thereby alleviating constipation issues. As bananas are prebiotic sources, their fiber content maintains the health of our gut microbiome; thus, they are known as gut-friendly foods.
Why is it not good to eat banana everyday? ›
Eating too many bananas might disturb this equilibrium, resulting in blood sugar fluctuations. Weight gain: Bananas are higher in calories and carbs than other fruits, so eating too many can lead to weight gain. Fatigue: Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that helps produce serotonin, which helps with sleep.
Banana bread offers healthy monounsaturated fats with ingredients such as nuts and olive oil. The Healthy Chef's Teresa Cutter states that healthy fats help to stabilize blood sugar levels as well as lower cholesterol levels.
Is banana bread better than regular bread? ›
Banana bread not only satisfies our taste buds but also offers several health benefits that regular bread may not provide. With its nutrient-rich ingredients, reduced added sugars, healthier fats, and potential for customization, banana bread proves to be a delicious and nourishing choice.
What is the best bread for your stomach? ›
The best bread to reduce gut inflammation is bread made from whole grains. Refined grains, such as the grains found in white bread and white pasta, are known to increase inflammation across the whole body. Sourdough bread and rye bread are both good options for an anti-inflammatory diet.
How many slices of Banana Bread is a serving? ›
Slice into 12 (¾-inch-thick) slices to make 200 calorie portions.
How many calories are in a slice of Starbucks banana nut bread? ›
Starbucks Banana Nut Bread (1 serving) contains 52g total carbs, 50g net carbs, 22g fat, 6g protein, and 420 calories.
How much cholesterol is in a slice of banana nut bread? ›
Nutrition Facts
| Nutrient | Value |
|---|
| Saturated fats | 1g |
| Trans fats | – |
| Cholesterol | 7mg |
| Sodium | 275mg |
83 more rowsThough peanut butter is high in calories and fat, it may be good for meeting your weight loss goals. Peanut butter's high protein content may help curb appetite, but eating it in moderation is key. Peanut butter is a delicious, versatile spread. It's nutrient-rich and goes well with both savory and sweet foods.
Can I eat peanut butter to lose belly fat? ›
Peanut butter alone can't burn body fat, but peanuts are chock-full of healthy unsaturated fats, which are filling, heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory.
What is the best snack to lose weight? ›
Healthy snacks for adults
- Apple and peanut butter packet. ...
- Almonds and popcorn. ...
- Energy bar and mandarin orange. ...
- Blueberries and breakfast biscuits. ...
- Roasted edamame and banana. ...
- Beef or turkey jerky and apple slices. ...
- Cheese crisps and cashews. ...
- Olives and prunes.
Bananas are filling, easy to eat, and affordable: Bananas make a quick and easy, filling, low-calorie snack that can help with weight loss and weight maintenance. Bananas are easily available, affordable, not messy, and can be eaten on the go.
