BY:
CHRISTINA ARMER
History of Bananas:
• The origin of bananas is traced back to the
Malaysian jungles of Southeast Asia, where so
many varieties and names for the banana are in
that area.
• It’s suspected that the banana was the earth’s
first fruit. There are records of bananas being
cultivated, dating back to 327 B.C., Alexander
The Great Empire.
• Bananas were officially introduced to the
American public at the 1876 Philadelphia
Centennial Exhibition.
Nutritional Facts:
~Bananas are a good source of
vitamin C, potassium and dietary
fiber. One banana has 15% of the
vitamin C, 11% of the potassium,
and 16% of the dietary fiber
needed each day for good health.
~Potassium is useful to your body
to maintain the fluid balance in
blood and tissue cells. Also helps
with protein synthesis and
building of muscles, because it
stimulates nerve impulses for
muscle contraction.
One Large Banana
contains the following:
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Potassium
Protein
Calcium
Fiber
Magnesium
602mg
2 grams
9.2 mg
4 grams
44.1 mg
Vitamin A
Vitamin B6
Vitamin C
Sodium
Calories
123 I.U.
.88mg
13.8 mg
2mg
140
Quickies for your info:
• Bananas are America’s #1 fruit
• Average American consumes over 28 pounds of
bananas each year.
• Bananas have no fat, cholesterol or sodium
• There is no such thing as a banana tree.
Bananas grow on plants.
• Bananas are available all year-round. They are
harvested every day of the year.
• 3 medium bananas weigh approximately 1
pound.
Quickies Con’t:
• Bananas are available all year-round.
They are harvested every day of the year.
• 3 medium bananas weigh approximately 1
pound.
• Over 96% of American households
purchase bananas at least once each
month.
Varieties: Who Knew?
• Red bananas- have a green/red peel and pink
fruit flesh. Taste the same as yellow bananas,
but the redder the a fruit is the more carotene it
contains.
• Fruit-bananas- are the normal, yellow bananas.
15-30cm ripen faster
• The baby bananas- yellow as well, is the
sweetest of the banana family. 6-8cm
• Baking bananas- large and are green, yellow or
red like. Cannot be eaten raw! 30-40cm
Peel on This:
• Vitamin C in bananas helps your body to
heal and defend against infection as well
as the absorption of iron.
• Bananas contain more digestive
carbohydrates than any other fruit.
• “Eat at least one banana a day, they are
said to contain everything a human needs
and they contain all the 8 amino-acids our
body cannot produce itself.”
Banana Breakfast Shake:
• Pre: 5min
• Makes: 2 serving
• -2 medium, ripe Bananas, quartered
-1 Cup low fat plain or vanilla yogurt
-1/3 Cup orange juice
-2 Teaspoons honey
Combine bananas, yogurt, juice and honey in
blender or food processor container. Cover;
blend until thick and smooth. Serve.
Chocolate Chip Banana
Nut Bread
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INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped
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PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 350°. Stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium
mixing bowl until blended. Combine chocolate chips and toasted walnuts in a small bowl; toss with
1 tablespoon flour. Beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and
fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in mashed bananas, lemon
juice and vanilla extract. Beat in flour mixture on low speed until blended. Spoon about one-third
of the batter into buttered and floured 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Sprinkle with half of chocolate chipwalnut mixture. Spoon another one-third of batter over the chocolate chip mixture. Sprinkle with
remaining chocolate chip-walnut mixture. Cover with remaining banana bread batter. Run knife
through batter in zig-zag pattern.
Bake bread until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 60 to 70 minutes. Cool for 5
minutes in the pan; turn out onto rack to cool completely.
Makes one 9x5x3-inch loaf of banana bread with chocolate chips and walnuts.
Shared by Techgoddess
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•1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
•1 cup sugar
•2 large eggs
•1 cup mashed ripe bananas
•2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
•1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
References:
• http://www.thefruitpages.com/bananas.sht
ml
• http://www.aged.tamu.edu/agjour/307/200
3c/Ward/nutrition_information_on_banana
s.htm
• http://www.easmorebananas.com/facts/nut
rition.htm
• http://www.eatmorebananas.com/lifestyle/
dis_recipe.cfm