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Coconut Banana Bread

banana breadNever ever think that just because you’re sticking to an eating protocol that you have to be a victim of restriction. I’m not a believer in hard core dietary limitation, however I do believe you can achieve detoxification, cleansing, and give your gut a rest from everyday stressors whilst still indulging in pleasure. All it takes is some creativity and an open mind.

In fact, fasting as a spiritual practice is a way to experience the pleasure of a higher conscious state, mindfully detaching from mealtimes as a way to re-focus. During my fasting protocol, which isn’t a complete abstinence of eating all together, you do have the opportunity to truly savor simple elemental flavours. By the end of a fast, you may actually find that your taste buds have re-wired to find even vegetables bursting with sweetness.

Ritual is something of a lost art in our society, and sitting down to food with a mindful, conscious approach is somewhat of a shock to the system in our fast paced world. How often do you sit down, breathe, indulge, and bask your senses in the still quiet of a meal? This approach can act as a mini health retreat, a minor meditation that will re-set your mind on the goodness and beauty of life.

While I’m fasting, I love to sit down in the afternoon to take a pause between ticking tasks off my to-do list, to have some time for myself; refueling for the afternoon. I’ll light myself a candle, prepare myself a pot of herbal tea in a nice tea-pot, and sit down to a snack. My strawberry teacakes are a true delight for afternoon tea, and my lime and blueberry muffins are a sweet treat that will never disappoint.

While I’m fasting, I still want to enjoy a treat that is generous in flavor, and I’d have to say this coconut and banana bread from my new book Fast Your Way to Wellness is an utterly gorgeous indulgence, with a tropical twist on the classic flavours of everyday banana bread, which is usually loaded with wheat and white sugar.

This beauty is free from gluten, low in fructose and uses coconut flour, which imparts the flavour of a Maldivian island, yet offers a range of health benefits. Coconut supplies energy building medium chain fatty acids, micro-flora support and defence against parasites and pathogens thanks to lauric acid and monolaurin. Studies have also shown the fatty acids in coconut help you to eat less, and this is believed to be the result of the way these fats are metabolized.

Bananas are high in potassium, vitamin B6, immune boosting vitamin C, and also contain nutrients that moderate blood sugar levels; helping you to avoid blood sugar plummets during periods of fasting. Bananas are also quite rich in fibre and resistant starch, which are loved by your gut microbes, keeping all those friendly bacteria happy, healthy and fed. Look after these guys and they will look after you! You can read more about the importance about gut health in my popular e-Book Heal Your Gut. By the way if you only have frozen bananas its ok to use them in this recipe. For tips on freezing bananas see here.

I use a few eggs in this recipe, which adds a good hit of protein to keep you fuller for longer. Honestly, I’m not sure I can find another ingredient that quite matches the nutritional generosity and convenience of the mighty egg. These guys are the perfect portion of fats, proteins and nutrients to aid in body building and all round nourishment. They’re an inexpensive, high quality source of protein, which is found mostly in the whites.  Egg whites contain rich sources of selenium, vitamin D, B12, B6 and minerals such as iron, zinc and copper. Egg yolks contain fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K and lecithin. If you buy high quality free range eggs that have come from hens who have pecked around happily in green pastures, they’ll also contain a nice dose of anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids, so be sure to know you’re eggs.

Aside from binding this bread nicely, eggs are intentionally part of the recipe to ensure you are gaining nutrient density and protein to keep you happy during a fast. But you’ll barely notice you’re fasting when ritually enjoying a slice of this luscious loaf, and with an open and conscious mind, every mouthful will bless your tastebuds.

Take the time to bake and enjoy this gift to yourself with a cup of herbal tea such as this lavender tea with almond milk, or a cleansing and anti-inflammatory turmeric and ginger tea.

Coconut banana bread

Makes 8 slices

119 calories per slice (498kJs)

 Ingredients:

  • 3 ripe small bananas
  • 3 medium eggs, lightly whisked
  • 90 g (31/4oz/1/4 cup) rice malt (brown rice) syrup
  • a few drops alcohol-free vanilla extract
  • 30 g (1 oz/1/4cup) coconut flour
  • 3/4teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
  • 1/2teaspoon salt
  • fruit, to serve (optional)
  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a 21 x 9 cm (81/4x 31/2 in) loaf (bar) tin.
  2. Peel and mash the bananas in a medium bowl. Add the eggs, rice malt syrup and vanilla, then mix well. Add the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt, then mix well. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin.
  3. Bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the bread comes out clean. Completely cool in the tin on a wire rack, then slice and serve with fruit (if using).

14 Responses to “Coconut Banana Bread”

  1. Vinnie says:

    Heyyyy,

    It’s Vinnie from Qantas, how are you? I have a bad memory and forgot which book I need to purchase from your website! Also the pea and mint soup was amazingggg but my vegan lasagne was a disaster because I accidently used my housemates tomato paste which was EXPIRED instead of my fresh one I bought a few days ago. He was still happy to eat it and it tasted fine..hope he doesn’t get sick haha. How are you settling back at home? It was lovely chatting to you, hope to hear from you soon!

    Vinnie Hoang aka the best flight attendant you’ll ever have.

  2. Pamela says:

    Hello, I’m on a restricted diet and eggs are not on the list. Have you had a successful build with flax or chia seeds as a substitute for the eggs?

  3. Kylie says:

    Hi Lee, the ingredients do not show how much stevia to use? Thanks

  4. Bianca says:

    Hi Lee. What can I substitute rice malt syrup with – I can’t find this product anywhere in South Africa!

  5. Adriana says:

    Hi, i was wondering how many grams of banana should go in this recipe ? I have tried it but it turned out to be too moist even with extra baking time. I assume it is due to the quantity of banana i used as i changed nothing in the other quantities (except rice malt syrup being replaced by honey 90g).
    Thanks
    Adriana

    • Lee says:

      Hu Adriana, I don;t have a gram weight but the bread is most but not soggy. Did you use three small bananas or two medium ones? Lee

  6. Sue says:

    Hi Lee, I’ve made this recipe 3 times & it doesn’t rise, I’m guessing it’s the coconut four? I doubled the recipe to see if there was more but there wasn’t. Is this normal or can i put other flours to do so. Thankyou

    • Lee says:

      Hello yes it doesn’t rise high like usual banana bread but i use a thin loaf pan so it gets height and also you can add other flours as you like 🙂 Lee

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