BANANA, GOJI, AND HAZELNUT BREAD

On mornings when you don’t have time to eat breakfast before you leave for work, wrap a slice of this superfood-packed bread in parchment paper and eat when you get there.

PER SLICE: 276 CAL | 10G FAT | 2.5G SAT FAT | 43G CARBS | 19G SUGARS | 0.8G SALT | 3.5G FIBER | 5.5G PROTEIN

MAKES: 10 SLICES PREP: 20 MINS, PLUS COOLING COOK: 1 HOUR

6 tablespoons butter, softened, plus extra to grease

½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2 eggs

3 bananas (about 1 pound), peeled and mashed

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ cup coarsely chopped unblanched hazelnuts

⅔ cup goji berries

⅓ cup dried banana chips

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan and line the bottom and two long sides with a piece of parchment paper.

2 Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the bananas.

3 Put the flours and baking powder into a bowl and mix well. Add to the banana mixture and beat until smooth. Add the hazelnuts and goji berries and stir well.

4 Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top flat, then sprinkle with the banana chips. Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until the loaf is well risen, has cracked slightly, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

5 Let cool for 5 minutes, then loosen the edges with a blunt knife and turn out onto a wire rack. Let cool completely, then peel away the paper. Store in an airtight container for up to three days.

HIGH·ENERGY BANANAS

Naturally rich in fruit sugar and starch, bananas are a great energy-boosting food. They contain plenty of potassium, which can help to regulate blood pressure and lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. They also contain the amino acid tryptophan and vitamin B₆, which together help in the production of mood-boosting serotonin.