Over the past few months, I have experienced some health issues, particularly abdominal pain and digestive issues (i.e. gas and bathroom troubles). Because of this, I have been on a journey of finding what qualifies as “healthy” for me personally. This journey has included 2 ER visits, multiple specialists appointments, and countless prescriptions and recommended “remedies”. After being poked and prodded with no guarantee of a definitive answer, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I had narrowed it down that my issues had something to do with my digestive system, so I went on the exciting journey of the elimination diet. I cut out dairy and meat, but nothing really seemed to help until I cut out gluten. I suddenly felt lighter, my bathroom issues were (mostly) resolved, and my abdominal pain (which had previously only been helped by a dose of a prescription called dicyclomine) had been lowered to the point that I almost didn’t notice it. Now I’m not saying that this problem was completely cured by cutting out gluten (I still have issues here and there, and I’m figuring out what works best for me). But, being gluten-free has helped me gain my quality of life back and made me feel better than I have in months! 

If you have been wanting to go gluten-free, but you’re dreading cutting out some of your favorite foods, have no fear! In the coming months, I will be sharing some of my more successful experiments of making gluten-free versions of my favorite glutinous foods. So enough blabbing…here is my version of banana bread that is sans-gluten!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 VERY Ripe Bananas (we’re talking a mostly brown peel)
• ⅓ cup of melted butter or butter alternative (my favorite alternative is Earth Balance brand)
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• ¾ cup of sugar or stevia
• 1 large egg, whisked in a separate bowl
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups of gluten-free all-purpose flour (my favorite brand is Krusteaz)
• ½ cup of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

Enjoy! Be sure to let me know if you tried out this recipe and how you liked it!