FRUIT
The simplest and yummiest recipe for overly ripe bananas
Fruit is a mainstay of most households but some items can occasionally be left too long before eating. But there are tricks to avoid throwing them out.
We’ve all been there. You head over to where you keep the fruit and quickly realise that the banana you had your taste buds set on is not going to deliver the sweet, textural delight that you’d hoped for. It’s now brown, overly ripe, and not very appetising.
How not to waste those bananas
Maybe the conditions in the kitchen weren’t right; maybe you just forgot about the bunch or weren’t in the mood on previous days. Either way, it looks like the garbage is getting another unnecessary addition. But wait! What if I told you that there was a delicious alternative for you that makes sense on a variety of levels? Read on and live better.
The first thing to note here is that by using those perceived past-their-best fruits you are reducing your contribution to the massive 38% of all food in America that is wasted! That equates to an incredible 92 billion pounds of food being thrown out each year, which is the equivalent to 145 billion meals worth around $473 billion. Well done, you!
Banana and oats: the healthy breakfast alternative
So, to the alternative, and you’ll be delighted to know that a) this is super simple and b) it offers plenty of flexibility to match your taste. Step one, grab those overly ripe bananas and strip away the brownish peel, dropping the fruit into a bowl or onto a plate. Now, with a strong fork, start mashing them up until you have a nice smooth paste.
Add this banana paste to another jar or food container (one with a sealable lid) and cover with a similar volume of oat flakes followed by the milk of your choice, and a pinch of salt. Give it a good stir, cover, and pop it into the fridge, leaving it to settle overnight.
When you wake up in the morning, you can get creative. Add honey, maple syrup, peanut butter. Drop in some chopped apple, blueberries, or your favourite nut selection. Sprinkle on some cinnamon, chocolate or other flavouring as you desire. There really are no limits to what you can do with it, meaning it can be a regular breakfast addition but never one that is boring. And it really sets you up for the day.
More fruity news:
If you have perfectly sized overnight containers for this then you can leave enough space for your topping of choice and eat directly from there, potentially even taking it with you to the office. Alternatively, transfer the mixture into another bowl and enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Another tip for busy people, and those that have a large bunch of these forgotten bananas, is to make a larger starting paste and then you’re all set for the week, a different taste added each day. Delicious and so many banana benefits for your body!