This is a Heart Healthy Choice!        

Here are some quick recipes to help use up those not-so-ripe bananas:

Fruit Smoothies

Makes 4 servings, 1 cup each

Total Time: 5 minutes

 Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh strawberry halves         
• 1 cup vanilla low-fat yogurt             
• 1 cup water                            
• 1 cup ice cubes                   
• 1 banana, cut into chunks           
• 2 tsp. Flavor drink mix (optional)       

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a blender; cover.
2. Blend on high speed until thickened and smooth.
3. Serve mmediately.

110 Calories, 1g Fat, 23g Carbohydrate, 3g Protein

Banana Pie Cups

Makes 4 servings, 1 cup each

Total Time: 15 minutes 

Ingredients:

• ½ banana, thinly sliced           
• 6 vanilla wafers or graham crackers, crumbled               
• 1-3/4 oz box of Vanilla Sugar Free Instant pudding            
• 2 Tbsp. thawed Cool Whip (optional)                               

Directions:              

1. Beat pudding mix into 2 cups cold low-fat milk in bowl with a wire whisk for 2 minutes.
2. Pour into individual serving dishes, alternating pudding, banana, crackers, and Cool Whip.

150 Calories, 3.5g Fat, 31g Carbohydrate, 2g Protein

Banana Bread Muffins

Makes 12 large or 48 mini muffins 

Total Time: 35 minutes               

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour           
• 1 tsp. baking powder                
• 1 tsp. baking soda               
• ½ tsp. salt                    
• 3 large bananas, mashed            
• ¾ cup white sugar                
• 1 egg                        
• 1/3 cup butter, melted   

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Coat muffin pans with non-stick spray or use paper liners.
3. Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt: set aside.
4. Combine bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter in a large bowl. Fold in flour mixture, mix until smooth. Scoop into muffin pans.
5. Bake mini muffins 10-15 minutes, and large muffins 25-30 minutes.

200 Calories, 5g Fat, 42g Carbohydrate, 4g Protein (1 large muffin)