It’s National Banana Day! 10 Recipes You’ll Go Bananas For

Sure, you can simply peel and eat ’em: These sweet and creamy fruits are packed with heart-healthy potassium, filling fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals; on Nutrisystem, one medium banana counts as one SmartCarb. In fact, bananas are our top logged SmartCarb in NuMi, our easy-to-use food tracker app, being logged 510,925 times! If you’ve got some super ripe bananas sitting on your counter, and a little time on your hands, you can turn these awesome fruits into an array of banana recipes. Think banana bread, muffins, pancakes, smoothies and more!

Try one (or all!) of these ten banana recipes and prepare to go “bananas”:

1. Gluten Free Banana Bread  >

To kick off our banana recipes, this delicious banana bread is a tasty classic that comes to mind when you’re cooking with bananas, and this healthy treat does not disappoint. Applesauce helps it bake soft and moist, ripe bananas and cinnamon offer the perfect blend of sweet and spice, and each hearty slice contains only 150 calories. Plus, it’s made with gluten free flour for people who have wheat allergies or other sensitivities. Click here for the full recipe! >

2. Banana Nut Overnight Oatmeal >

Don’t let the idea of an “overnight” recipe scare you: All you have to do is toss a bunch of ingredients into a mason jar, stick in the fridge and voila—a ready-to-eat breakfast that’s equal parts nutritious and delicious. It’s got fresh-sliced banana and crushed walnuts, flavorful almond milk and maple syrup, and oats that are packed with satisfying fiber and protein. Enjoy the oatmeal cold; or heat up the jar if you prefer a warm meal to start your day. Each serving clocks in at 276 calories. Click here for the full recipe! >

3. Rise & Dine Chocolate Crepes >

Paging all chocolate lovers: That “something sweet” you need to start your day is right here. These delicious crepes are light, airy and easy to make. Fill them with a combo of cream cheese, yogurt, vanilla and banana slices, and top with a sprinkle of cocoa powder for a picture-perfect finishing touch. Two crepes contain 217 calories and count as one Smart Carb, one PowerFuel and one Extra on Nutrisystem. Click here for the full recipe! >

4. 5-Ingredient Banana Nut Muffins >

No need for flour, sugar, eggs, separate bowls for wet and dry ingredients, or any other complicated steps to make these muffins. With this recipe, it’s five simple ingredients (bananas, oats, raisins, cashews and cinnamon), one bowl and about 15 minutes in the oven. Not into raisins? No problem. Swap them out for cranberries or any other dried fruit. No cashews in your pantry? Use another favorite nut, like almonds or walnuts. Personalize your muffin to make the perfect grab-and-go snack. On Nutrisystem, one muffin counts as one SmartCarb and one PowerFuel. Click here for the full recipe! >

5. 4-Ingredient Banana Nice Cream >

Get this: One cup of standard vanilla ice cream weighs in at 273 calories and 28 grams of sugar, according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). And that’s just plain old vanilla. With Nutrisystem’s nice cream, however, feel free to dive in spoon first, sans the worry. This banana-flavored version offers the same creamy sweetness you expect from the frozen treat, but at 110 calories per serving. And you just need bananas, almond milk, vanilla, salt and a blender to make it. Puree to a soft-serve consistency or pop it in the freezer for a firmer texture. Click here for the full recipe! >

6. 3-Ingredient Banana Pancakes >

Bananas of course, plus eggs and cinnamon: Mash and mix, pour and flip. It’s that simple. You get four hearty pancakes that count as two PowerFuels and one Smart Carb. Top them with a Tablespoon of maple syrup (and add one Extra). Click here for the full recipe! >

7. Chocolate Covered Banana Bites >

You get the rich and indulgent flavor you crave in each decadent bite, with absolutely none of the guilt. And this frozen treat layers on the good stuff: Shredded coconut, peanut butter and chocolate coat a chunk of banana for a little piece of dessert heaven on a popsicle stick. On Nutrisystem, each serving counts as one SmartCarb and one Extra. Click here for the full recipe! >

8. 3-Step Banana Pudding >

For some, banana pudding is pure comfort food. For others, it’s a taste of nostalgia. Whatever you’re feeling when you savor a spoonful of one of the creamiest banana recipes, the one emotion you won’t have is guilt. That’s because each serving contains 149 calories—and the serving is pretty large. Have it all and it counts as one SmartCarb, one PowerFuel and two Extras. Click here for the full recipe! >

9. Banana Split “Nice” Cream >

It doesn’t seem possible that this dessert is diet-friendly: Chocolate chips, peanuts, strawberry sauce and chunks of banana over a bowl of cold, creamy goodness. But it most certainly is: The “nice” cream—made from bananas, vanilla and nonfat Greek yogurt—is packed with protein. The sauce—made from simmered and smashed fresh strawberries—offers a punch of vitamin C; and the peanuts provide healthy fats. The combination: just 259 calories per serving. Click here for the full recipe! >

10. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie >

The last of our banana recipes is a classic treat. Three favorite flavors, one yummy smoothie. To make it, blend a frozen banana, a tablespoon of creamy peanut butter and a serving of the Nutrisystem Chocolate Shake Mix with a little ice and water until smooth and sip-able. Each smoothie counts as two PowerFuels and one SmartCarb. Click here for the full recipe! >

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