Vegan Banana Bread

Baking with 100% whole wheat flour can be tricky, often resulting in heavy or dry baked goods (the hockey puck principle). Baking is a science and an art, and with the right tweaks you can make healthy and tasty whole wheat muffins and quick breads. But, what happens when you throw vegan into the mix and can’t rely on dairy and eggs? Baking without eggs, butter and milk turns the science upside down- so I’ve been learning the new science of vegan baking. I tested and retested this vegan banana bread recipe, trying it with ingredients like applesauce and flaxseed to replace the dairy and eggs. In the end I liked the simple approach the best. Adding extra banana plus soymilk and vinegar (sour soymilk) keep the loaf together, and make it moist and delicious.

Vegan Banana Bread
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup unsweetened soymilk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup sucanat or packed dark brown sugar
1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas
1/4 cup canola or safflower oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
1/2 cup chopped toasted nuts (almonds, walnuts or pecans)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom of 8×4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. Set aside.

Sir together soymilk and vinegar; let stand 2 minutes until thickened. In medium bowl mix soymilk mixture, sucanat, banana, oil and vanilla until well blended. Add to flour mixture, stirring until just combined. Stir in nuts. Spread batter evenly in pan.

Bake 55 to 65 minutes or until browned and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Makes 1 loaf (16 slices)

Tip: You’ll need 3 large or 4 medium bananas for this recipe. Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor.

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Matcha Mango Smoothies

Looking to boost the flavor and nutrition of your breakfast smoothie? Try adding green tea to the mix. Simply use brewed and chilled green tea in place of some of the liquid like soymilk or juice. Or, blend matcha tea powder into your favorite smoothie. Matcha is powdered whole leaf Japanese green tea. Only a small amount of the high quality tea is needed to impart the flavor and color of green tea to smoothies. Here’s a simple green tea smoothie recipe made with matcha tea.

Matcha Mango Smoothies
1 1/4 cups mango chunks
1/2 cup unsweetened soymilk or low-fat milk
1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon matcha tea powder
1/2 cup ice cubes
Honey or agave syrup (optional)

Add mango, soymilk, yogurt and matcha tea powder to blender container. Cover and blend until smooth. Add ice cubes; cover and blend until smooth. Taste for sweetness. Add honey or agave syrup if needed; cover and blend to combine. Pour into 2 glasses.

Makes 2 servings (1 1/4 cups each)

Tip: Adding too much matcha tea can result in a bitter flavor. Start with a small amount of matcha and adjust according to taste.

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Blueberry Mango Smoothies

Don’t drink your calories. That’s the mantra of many trying to shed some pounds. Should smoothies be an exception to this diet rule? Yes (and no). Smoothies made with simple ingredients like soymilk, plain yogurt and real fruit are a nutritious mini meal, perfect for breakfast on the go or an after workout snack. But, smoothies made with more processed ingredients like flavored smoothie bases and frozen yogurt or sherbet tend to be much higher in calories- a  mega meal in a glass. Better to sip simply when it comes to smoothies.

Here’s a favorite smoothie I created. I love the combination of blueberry and mango, but you can switch up the fruit if you like. Try peaches instead of mango or strawberries in place of the blueberries. You can’t go wrong with this easy smoothie recipe.

Blueberry Mango Smoothies

Blueberry Mango Smoothies


Blueberry Mango Smoothies

1 cup unsweetened soymilk or low-fat milk
1/2 cup mango chunks
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt
Maple syrup, honey or agave syrup (optional)

Add soymilk, mango, blueberries and yogurt to blender container. Cover and blend until smooth. Taste for sweetness. Add maple syrup if needed; cover and blend to combine. Pour into 2 glasses.

Makes 2 servings (1 1/4 cups each)

Nutrition Tip: Try adding a boost to your smoothie. Blend in a little almond butter, protein powder or ground flaxseed.

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