Tropical Blue Smoothie Bowl

Tropical Blue Smoothie Bowl
Number of Servings
Serves 2
Ingredients

Smoothie

  • 1 to 2 servings ChildLife Essentials Vitamin D3
  • 2 frozen bananas
  • 1 cup frozen mango
  • [q:1/2] cup coconut yogurt
  • [q:1/2] cup coconut milk beverage
  • 1 Tbsp blue spirulina powder

​Optional Toppings

  • Gluten-free granola
  • Fresh blueberries
  • Kiwi, peeled and sliced
  • Fresh mango, peeled and chopped
Directions
  1. Add in Vitamin D3, bananas, mango, coconut yogurt, coconut milk, and blue spirulina powder into a blender and blend until smooth. If needed, add more coconut milk to thin out the smoothie.
  2. Pour blue smoothie into a bowl and top with your favorite toppings.
Nutrition Info
445 Calories, 12 g Protein, 16 mg Cholesterol, 89 g Carbohydrates, 61 g Total sugars (0 g Added sugars), 9 g Fiber, 8 g Total fat (6 g sat), 204 mg Sodium, [nut:5] Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, [nut:3] Folate, Potassium, [nut:2] Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B3 (niacin), Magnesium, Phosphorus, [nut:1] Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, Calcium, Iron, Zinc

Frozen Topped Bananas

Frozen Topped Bananas
Prep Time
Serves 4
Ingredients
  • 2 ripe, firm bananas, peeled
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • [q:3/4] cup combination of chopped nuts, dried fruit, granola, and/ or shredded coconut*
Directions
  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick foil.
  2. Slice bananas in half widthwise and insert a wooden frozen treat stick lengthwise into each banana half. Place bananas on baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
  3. Melt chocolate with oil in a large bowl by microwaving at 50 percent power for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir occasionally with a spoon, until melted and smooth.
  4. Holding wooden stick, roll each banana half in melted chocolate. Quickly sprinkle desired toppings over.
  5. Freeze bananas until frozen and chocolate sets, 30 to 45 minutes. Serve immediately or freeze up to 1 week in an airtight container.
Nutrition Info
Made with dark chocolate and walnuts: 532 Calories, 8 g Protein, 1 mg Cholesterol, 37 g Carbohydrates, 19 g Total sugars (11 g Added sugars), 8 g Fiber, 41 g Total fat (13 g sat), 10 mg Sodium, [nutrition:3] Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, [nutrition:2] Vitamin B6, Zinc, [nutrition:1] Vitamin E, Potassium

Super Bananutella Smoothie

Super Bananutella Smoothie
Adding Nutella makes everything better.
Prep Time
5 minutes
Number of Servings
Serves 2
Ingredients
  • 1 cup milk (or non-dairy option)
  • [q:1/2] cup vanilla Greek yogurt (or non-dairy option)
  • 1 banana
  • 1 tbsp Nutella
  • handful of ice
  • 1 to 2 tsp of ChildLife Essentials Vitamin C (serving size varies by age)
Directions
  1. Combine ingredients in a blender.
  2. Optional: add your favorite toppings.
  3. Enjoy!
Nutrition Info
Made with oat milk and 2 teaspoons ChildLife Essentials Vitamin C: 232 Calories, 8 g Protein, 10 mg Cholesterol, 29 g Carbohydrates, 18 g Total sugars (5 g Added sugars), 3 g Fiber, 10 g Total fat (5 g sat), 88 mg Sodium, [nut:5] Vitamin C, [nut:2] Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B12, Calcium, Phosphorus, [nut:1] Vitamin B6

Banana Fritters

Banana Fritters
Pisang Goreng
Prep Time
40 minutes
Number of Servings
Serves 6
Ingredients
  • [q:1/2] cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
  • [q:1/4] cup (38 g) rice flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • [q:1/4] tsp salt
  • 1 cup plus 2 tsp (250 ml) water
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • Rice bran, canola or grapeseed oil, as needed
  • 6 large ripe bananas, peeled and cut into halves or thirds
Directions
  1. In a medium bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, rice flour, baking powder and salt until they are well combined.
  2. Whisk in the water and egg until the batter is smooth. The batter should have the consistency of pancake batter, and it should run off a spoon in a continuous ribbon. Leave the batter to rest for 15 minutes.
  3. In the meantime, heat the oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. Dip each piece of banana into the batter and ensure it is coated completely.
  4. Add the banana pieces to the oil and fry them for 1 to 2 minutes, or until they are golden brown, rotating them every 30 seconds to achieve even browning
Nutrition Info
Made with [q:1/4] cup grapeseed oil: 256 Calories, 4 g Protein, 27 mg Cholesterol, 40 g Carbohydrates,14 g Total sugars (0 g Added sugars), 3 g Fiber, 10 g Total fat (1 g sat), 169 mg Sodium, [nut:3] Vitamin B6, [nut:1] Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Phosphorus

Banana, Green Tea & Pistachio Smoothie

Banana, Green Tea & Pistachio Smoothie
Ingredients
Directions
  1. Set aside 2 tablespoons of pistachios for garnish. Place the remaining pistachios in a blender and grind several seconds.
  2. Add the banana, EDENSOY, ice, maple syrup and matcha. Pulse several seconds.
  3. Pour into glasses and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of pistachios on top of each glass for garnish.
Nutrition Info
232 calories, 6 g fat (23% calories from fat), 9 g protein, 38 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 104 mg sodium

Almond Butter and Banana Toast

Almond Butter and Banana Toast
Number of Servings
Serves 1
Ingredients
Directions
  1. Fork split and toast the Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Flax English Muffins.
  2. Spread almond butter onto English muffin.
  3. Add sliced bananas.
  4. Drizzle with honey.
Nutrition Info
Drizzled with 2 teaspoons honey: 320 Calories, 9 g Protein, 0 mg Cholesterol, 53 g Carbohydrates, 20 g Total sugars (11 g Added sugars), 6 g Fiber, 10 g Total fat (1 g sat), 204 mg Sodium, [nut:2] Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Phosphorus, [nut:1] Vitamin B3 (niacin), Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Zinc

Tropical Acai Bowl

Tropical Acai Bowl
Number of Servings
Serves 2
Ingredients
  • Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Flake Cereal
  • [q:1/2] cored pineapple
  • 1 cup frozen Acai puree
  • 1 cup frozen banana
  • [q:1/2] cup spinach
  • [q:1/2] frozen mango
  • [q:1/2] cup frozen mixed berries
  • 1 tbs chia seeds
  • [q:1/2] cup almond milk
  • Pitaya
  • Fresh mango
  • Coconut flakes
Directions
  1. Cut pineapple in half
  2. Remove core
  3. Blend acai, banana, spinach, mango, mixed berries, chia seeds and almond milk in blender until smooth
  4. Pour smoothie into pineapple
  5. Top with fresh mango, pitaya, coconut and Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Flake Cereal
Nutrition Info
520 Calories, 9 g Protein, 0 mg Cholesterol, 113 g Carbohydrates, 63 g Total sugars (1 g Added sugars), 18 g Fiber, 9 g Total fat (3 g sat), 156 mg Sodium, [nut:5] Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, [nut:4] Vitamin K, Folate, [nut:3] Iron, [nut:2] Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin E, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, [nut:1] Vitamin A, Zinc

Go Bananas for Beauty

Go Bananas for Beauty
Bananas and other ingredients to create DIY body care products.

File ID 36579386 | © Wasana Jaigunta | Dreamstime.com

Bananas: More Than Just a Flavorful Fruit

Bananas are a fun food. Most of us were introduced to bananas as babies.

This yummy potassium- and magnesium-rich food also contains 33 percent of your daily intake of vitamin C. It’s inexpensive, and easy to pack in your purse or gym bag, and snack on when needed.

Bananas are also great for DIY organic beauty treatments this time of year as the seasons change.

Potassium, the main nutrient in bananas, hydrates cells and helps moisturize hair and skin.

I encourage you to take a personal day off for beauty, and just go bananas.

DIY Body Care Products Made With Bananas

Here are a few fun, simple DIY recipes that you can try for hair, face and body.

Moisturizing Banana Hair Mask

This hair mask is perfect for dry and/or curly hair.

Ingredients

  • ½  banana
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoon of avocado

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender until creamy.
  2. Rub into hair, and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes, even up to an hour.

Note: For a more intense moisturizing experience, place a shower cap over your hair.

Moisturizing and Exfoliating Banana Body Scrub

This banana exfoliator will slough off dead skin. The result will be soft, glowing skin that’s smooth to the touch.

Ingredients

  • 2 brown bananas
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • olive oil (as needed)

Directions

  1. Mash 2 brown bananas with 1 cup of brown sugar, add olive oil as need to help in blending.
  2. Use this body scrub in the shower.

Note: Need extra exfoliation? I suggest using dry-brushing beforehand.

Moisturizing Face Mask

I also like to use this as a foot mask sometimes.

Ingredients

  • ½ banana
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Directions

  1. Mash all ingredients and leave on skin for 5-15 min.
  2. Rub this on your feet and cover with plastic bags for 5 minutes, after your body scrub.
Tags
bananas
skin care
DIY
hair care
body care
Karim Orange

Bananas Win the Race

Bananas Win the Race
Jes Gallagher
Gym workout accessory close up bottle of cool drinking water and banana.

Consuming carbohydrates (via foods or beverages) during lengthy workouts or races has been shown to have advantages. It can help athletes continue at a high intensity and recover more quickly when the trial is over.

A new study found that bananas can reduce inflammation and provide other benefits at least as well as sports drinks. Twenty competitive cyclists completed 75-kilometer trials on several dates. They consumed only water for one of the trials; on other days they also had 8 ounces of a sports drink or half a banana every 30 minutes.

Blood work showed much lower markers for inflammation when the sports drinks or bananas were consumed. The bananas also suppressed an enzyme that is known to intensify inflammation.

The downside is that bananas may cause bloating.

Sources

“Bananas vs. Sports Drinks? Bananas Win in Study” by Gretchen Reynolds, The New York Times, www.NYTimes.com, 4/4/18

“Metabolic Recovery from Heavy Exertion Following Banana Compared to Sugar Beverage or Water Only Ingestion...” by D.C. Nieman, PLOS One, 3/22/18

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Tags
bananas
fitness / exercise
racing
inflammation

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Instant Beauty Chocolate Pudding

Instant Beauty Chocolate Pudding
Number of Servings
2
Ingredients
  • 2 avocados, pitted and peeled
  • 1 banana, peeled
  • [q:1/4] cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 Tbsp Neocell Derma Matrix
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Berries, nuts, or toasted coconut for serving, if desired
Directions
  1. Combine avocados, banana, cocoa powder, Neocell Derma Matrix, honey, and vanilla in a blender or food processor and process until smooth.
  2. Spoon into small bowl or cups and top with berries, nuts, or coconut, if desired. Eat immediately or refrigerate until serving.
Nutrition Info
467 Calories, 7 g Protein, 0 mg Cholesterol, 54 g Carbohydrates, 26 g Total sugars (17 g Added sugars), 19 g Fiber, 31 g Total fat (5 g sat), 18 mg Sodium, [nutrition:5] Vitamin B6, [nutrition:4] Folate, [nutrition:3] Vitamin K, Magnesium, [nutrition:2] Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc, [nutrition:1] Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Iron
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