Just some simple switches can make your life better.

At least, that’s what I used to tell my mom while trying to convince her to try my latest “healthy” concoction. She’d give me plenty of encouragement as I switched the all purpose flour in my cookies with whole wheat, but would conveniently be too full to try any when they popped out of the oven. Too full from a chocolate milkshake she’d scarfed down moments before the timer went off, may I add.

And then the next day I’d come home to find half the cookies gone and my mom would admit they were pretty good even though they were healthy.

This happened about twice a month and each time my theory that healthier didn’t have to mean bad tasting stood solid.

Recently I’ve decided to try to make a few of my mom’s classic recipes healthier, such as her famous banana bread, and here you have it: the healthier, yet still extremely hearty, banana bread. The trick to making it healthier? Just a few simple switches, of course!

The first simple switch? Applesauce for butter.

Crazy, right? And no, the texture nor the taste changed in the recipe. And yet, several calories were docked from the bread through this switch. I know, your jeans feel looser already!

The second switch? Stevia replacing the sugar.

Stevia’s a natural zero-calorie substitute, but in order to keep the texture consistent between the healthier and unhealthier versions, I only substituted half the sugar for stevia.

The third switch… Eggbeaters instead of eggs!

Not necessarily healthier, but eggbeaters definitely have less fat and they guarantee you won’t find any stray shells in your batter.

The fourth switch was simply whole-wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour. Simple enough, right? I personally find this recipe just as delicious (if not more) than the classic recipe, and almost completely guilt free!

Hearty & Healthy Banana Bread

• 1/4 c. unsalted butter (softened)
• 1/4 c. applesauce
• 1/2 c. packed dark brown sugar (light brown sugar will also work)
• 1 tbs stevia
• 1/2 c. eggbeaters/egg substitute (or 2 eggs)
• 3 tbs warm water
• 1/2 tbs vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
• 1/4 c. wheat germ
• 1 tbs flaxseeds
• 1 tbs cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt (optional)
• 3 medium mashed bananas