FitSugar

A Reader Recipe: Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding

Fit Community — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:33:17 PDT

Looking for a sweet but healthy treat? This recipe for chocolate banana pudding that reader Gabriela Une Vie Saine posted in the Healthy Recipe community group may be just what you need.

This is an incredibly rich and delicious tasting pudding that's actually totally healthy. The texture is reminiscent of chocolate mousse, but it still manages to pack a ton of healthy fats and protein!

See the recipe when you

Healthy Dessert: Banana Cranberry Zucchini Muffins

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:00:03 PDT

Holy zucchinis! I wanted to plant two different kinds in my garden, and since the seedlings came in packs of four, my eight plants are bursting with gorgeous green veggies. I've grilled it, stuffed it with quinoa, made Creamy Zucchini Boats, and pan-fried Zucchini Latkes, but this weekend I was in the mood for something sweet. I thought, why not combine two of my favorite bread recipes - zucchini and banana. The combination is more amazing than I thought it would be.

Interested in seeing my recipe? Then keep reading.

Is the Morning Banana Diet Bananas?

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:47:45 PST

A Japanese weight loss plan known as The Morning Banana Diet (also known as the Asa Banana Diet - asa means morning in Japanese) has been around for a while, which means many people are finding success with it. Before discussing if it works, here are the guidelines for the diet:

For breakfast, eat one banana, or a few.
For lunch and dinner, eat what you want. There are no strict rules about what to eat or portion sizes. Eat until you are satisfied, but not stuffed. Don't eat after 8 p.m. (6 p.m. is better).
For all meals, sip room temperature water.
A sweet snack of chocolate, cookies, or the like is allowed at 3 p.m.
Allow at least four hours between your last meal and bedtime.
Work out only if you want to, but don't force yourself if it stresses you out.
Keep a food journal to document your daily food intake.

Wow. Basically you're encouraged to eat bananas for breakfast, and whatever else you want the rest of the day, as long as you stop eating four hours before you hit the hay? And exercise is optional? It amazes me that people have been losing weight this way, and what's with the bananas? To find out

read more. One theory as to why this diet works has to do with enzymes found in nanners. They supposedly speed up digestion and elimination, which results in rapid weight loss. Huh? In my experience, bananas are know for their binding properties. Another theory has to do with resistant starches found in bananas, a type of fiber that supposedly promotes fullness and increases fat burning, but a medium-sized banana only contains about three grams of fiber - not breaking the fiber bank. This diet may be having positive results since being on a diet in general makes people aware of what they're eating. It has nothing to do with the bananas though, since this fruit doesn't have any special powers when it comes to weight loss. Any diet plan that promotes eating unhealthy treats and optional exercise doesn't seem like a healthy lifestyle you can maintain, so it's not a diet you should even consider trying. If weight loss is on your mind, don't fall for this banana scheme. Eat a healthy diet full of lean proteins, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and veggies, and get moving at least 30 minutes a day. That's the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off.

Healthy Eating Tip: Freeze Bananas

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:00:21 PDT

Warmer weather makes bunches of bananas turn brown quicker, so before you have to throw them away, freeze them to use for smoothies or banana bread. Just unpeel your nanner, wrap it in plastic wrap, and pop it in the freezer. You can add the frozen banana right to the blender for a fruit smoothie, and for banana bread or muffins, allow them to thaw first. It's a helpful time- and money-saver.

This Shizz Is Bananas

BellaSugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:00:57 PST

This morning, Team Bella was sittin' around eating banana-filled breakfasts. (No, we're not on that wacky diet.) As delicious as we find them, they're equally delightful in beauty products. Check out a few items, from toothpaste to body scrub, that incorporate this fruit. Grab 'em while you can.

Monkey Banana #7 Toothpaste by Breath Palette - Sold Out	Burt's Bees Beeswax & Banana Hand Creme - Sold Out
Green by Nature Banana Shea Body Butter - Sold Out	Ulta 3-in-1 Shower Smoothies - Sold Out
Banana Moon - $7.95	Mark Calming Effect Comforting Milk Cleanser - $9.00
Juara Avocado Banana Mask - $36.00	Leonor Greyl - Banane Shampoo - Bain Restructurant a la Banane - 200 ml - $37.00

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What's the Deal With the Morning Banana Diet?

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:30:00 PST

I've been hearing a lot about this new Morning Banana Diet that is taking Japan by storm, so I decided to do a little investigating on whether or not it's worth all the hype.

Basically, the rules behind the Morning Banana Diet (MBD) are relatively simple. Eat at least one banana for breakfast and anything you like for lunch and dinner, as long as you don't eat after 8 p.m. An afternoon snack is OK (even if it's unhealthy), but no desserts after meals and you're encouraged to drink only room temperature water. You'll need to go to bed by midnight and keep a food journal. Exercise is not necessary, and you shouldn't force yourself to do it if it stresses you out (WTF?).

If you remember the general rules of for spotting an unhealthy diet, you probably also remember that all diets should promote healthy eating and exercise. Clearly, the MBD does not, and therefore does not get a thumbs-up in my book - not to mention the fact that it's really not something you could do for the rest of your life (I don't care how much you love bananas). Yes, bananas are good for you, but so is exercise, as well as a lot of other fruits and veggies that you could incorporate into your breakfast.

When you read about a new diet and it seems too good to be true, chances are it is - a silver bullet does not yet exist, and we'll know if and when it does. Until then, the real key to keeping yourself healthy is to maintain healthy eating and keep moving.

Source

Cool Idea: Recycled Chiquita Banana Box Chandelier

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:00:08 PDT

During her time at the Utrecht School of the Arts in the Netherlands, artist Anneke Jakobs salvaged Chiquita Banana boxes and cut out their cheerful banana shapes and iconic logos. She then cleverly arranged them into chandelier form, fastening the cardboard together with cotter pins. Motivated makers can email her for PDF directions to make their own (and interested buyers can also email for pricing). "At the end," she says, "it's everyone's choice to spend their time or their money on something."

Source

Cute Alert: Opossum With Banana Munchies

GiggleSugar — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 02:00:00 PDT

Opossums aren't "cute" by conventional standards, but I dare you to look into these big, black, buggy eyes and deny this opossum his claim to cute. Watch him ~~snack~~ smack on a bit of banana and try to resist the urge to reprimand his bad eating etiquette. When one is this cute, one can get away with making all sorts of om nom nom nom noises.

Remember Miss Chiquita Banana?

GiggleSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 03:00:00 PDT

She's a little older, but still straight up bonkers about bananas. You'd think the lady's fruit fetish would have let up by now, but it's only gotten worse. Not only does she sing the praises of her fave fruit, she adds big, beady eyes to its freckled exterior and creates a chorus of mouthless, banana backup singers. I suppose this is why they say life only gets better after age 60. Looks like a good time to me . . .

Dude Cracks Open a Banana With His Crack

GiggleSugar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:00:00 PST

I have no clue how one discovers an oddball talent of this sort - and I don't want to know - but Mr. Shameless below figured out that he can peel open a banana using only his booty cheeks. The banana butt split is hard to digest, but it's actually the minimalist banana hammock that makes this so very, very wrong . . .