Monday, May 25, 2009

Banana Bo Bana


Here is a great way to get some omega-3's to your kids. Take a banana and cut it in half long ways, like a banana split. Then spread the inside with almond butter. Peanut butter works well too, but almond butter tastes better. Then drizzle a little honey on top.

Emily loves this snack.

Benefits of this snack

  1. Protein
  2. Omega-3's in the almond butter
  3. Something sweet that is healthy
  4. Fiber
Keep in mind that if your child is under 3 eating nuts can be a choking hazard. That is why this snack is so great for this age group. Be sure not to have any huge clumps of peanut/almond butter because this can be a choking hazard too.

REMEMBER! When you buy peanut butter to check to see if it has ANY hydrogenated fats in it. Most peanut butters do! Hydrogenated fats are trans fats. Look for words in the ingredient list such as "partially hydrogenated soybean oil, or fully hydrogenated vegetable oil. Anything that has the word hydrogenated. Also beware because you can have a trans fat free product that still has partially hydrogenated fat in it. This is because if their is less than 1/2 gram/serving, they can say it is trans fat free.

  • Hydrogenated fats can block your body from using the good essential fatty acids like omega-3 fatty acids
  • Hydrogenated fats have to be processed by your liver because your body does not recognize it as a "fat", but rather as a non-food substance
  • Hydrogenated fats increase the bad cholesterol (LDL) and decrease your good cholesterol (HDL).
  • New York ban trans fats from their cafeterias and restaurants
  • In animal studies, eating trans fat also promotes obesity and resistance to insulin, the precursor to diabetes.
  • An analysis of the health effects of industrial trans fats conducted by researchers with the Harvard School of Public Health Department of Nutrition indicates that eliminating trans fats from the U.S. food supply could prevent up to 1 in 5 heart attacks and related deaths.
I hope I have scared you into buying the good kind of peanut/almond butter.

5 comments:

  1. Is it because of the lack of hydrogenated oil that they have to be refridgerated? Katy
    PS the Almond butter IS awesome! I dont care for the taste fo almonds by themselfs but the butter is GREAT!!!
    My kids like almond butter and bananna sandwiches. I mash the banana up and spread it like I would jelly. Travis has eaten 2 hole sandwiches! He's only 2!

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  2. I called Adam's peanut butter and found out that the natural peanut butters do not HAVE TO BE refrigerated, but it is recommended because it slows the natural separation that occurs (the oil floats to the top). This natural separation does not occur in peanut butter products that have hydrogenated fat added to them. Unfortunately, even Adam's peanut butter has a "no stir" variety that contains hydrogenated fat! Yikes! Don't get that one.

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  3. You have convinced me...but we can't find any peanut butter without hydrogenated fat in Trinidad :(

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  4. Diane, that is too bad that they don't have any in Trinidad. Good thing you will be home soon. They sell Kirkland brand organic peanut butter in a two pack at Costco. It only has 2 ingredients: Dry Roasted Organic Peanuts and Salt.

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  5. I guess I have 2 things on my list now for Costco -peanut butter and fish oil supplement.

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