Paleo Diets, Desserts and “Banana Bread” Recipe

This Month’s Recipes: Paleo Banana Bread - Almond Raspberry Muffins

I have been approached quite often lately to incorporate The Paleo Diet into our personal chef services.  For those not familiar with the Paleo Diet, it is ultimately incorporating foods that our ancestors could have eaten.  It focuses on meat and vegetables, and incorporates nuts, seeds, many different kinds of vegetables and vegetable oils. The Paleo Diet eliminates dairy, soy, grains (including rice, wheat and corn), beans, refined sugar, and some starches (white potatoes and corn).  It may seem restrictive at first, but with practice and some creativity, many dishes can be reproduced in a tasty way.  Any diet recommendation that eliminates processed foods and focuses on whole, REAL foods is a win in my book.

The biggest challenge I had yet to explore is coming up with desserts or sweet items that can be used as dessert, since refined sugar is not allowed on this dietary plan.  Many recipes incorporate nut and nut flours, coconut oil and cream, and fruits, but I hadn’t tried many of them, worried that the results wouldn’t hold up for our clients.  However the other day, I decided to try a Paleo Banana Bread recipe (see below).  The texture was much different than a wheat flour-based bread, the Paleo version being almost spongy, but the flavor was quite good and I could see adapting my taste buds to this new treat.

Upon searching further, I realized that there are many different takes on this same bread recipe.  These treats consistently use ground almond meal (almond flour) as a substitute for wheat flour.  Additional almond extract emphasizes the presence of almond in the baked good.

I find this diet both intriguing and challenging.  Even for those of us not following the Paleo Diet, incorporating more nuts and healthful oils/fats into our diet is a great idea.  Meals can be higher in fat and calories, as nuts, nut oils, and coconut oils are regularly integrated into daily meals.  However, for many people, a lower carbohydrate diet fits their lifestyles better as well as their overall health goals.

Try these recipes and let us know what you think!

Shana Larsen and the Chefs of Ready, Set, Eat!