Sugar-free Banana Cake

It seems these days sugar isn’t as clear-cut as just the sweet stuff anymore. Sugar seems to be lurking in almost everything we eat, making it confusing to know what food is a good choice. Carbohydrates are our body’s primary source of fuel. But the issue arises when we use the poor quality fuel.

The World Health Organisation in 2015 released the Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children” based on strong quality of supporting evidence. It focuses on the documented health affects associated with free sugars. The “2013 revised Australian Guide to Health Eating” is in line with these recommendations with its guideline 3.3, “Limit intake of foods and drinks containing added sugar”.

Free sugars are added to foods. When reading the nutrition panel, it is important to look at the ingredient list. Common names for sugars added to foods include maltose, glucose, fructose, molasses, sucrose, syrups (e.g. corn, maple, glucose, fructose), dextrose, honey, invert sugar, treacle, fruit juices and fruit concentrates.

This is not to be confused with intrinsic sugars found in whole fresh fruits and vegetables. These usually also contain fibre, vitamins and minerals and water and for most people, these are foods we should be eating more of. WHO highlights there are no current reported evidence linking intrinsic sugars to adverse health effects. Free sugars should be reduced to less than 10% of total energy intake, less than 5% would provide additional health benefits.

 

Serves 12

Method:

Preparation: 10 minutes
Cooking: 30-40 minutes

Preheat oven to 180/160 fan forced. Grease and line a 450g loaf tin with baking paper.

Into a large bowl mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon and sultanas.

Into another bowl whisk together butter, vanilla essence, egg, milk, mashed bananas.

Pour the wet mixture into the dry and combine thoroughly with a wooden spoon.

Pour into prepared tin and bake 30-40 minutes.

Cool in tin 10 minutes before turning onto a wire rack.

Nutrition Information (per serve)

Energy: 574kJ
Carbohydrates: 19g
Protein: 3.1g
Fat: 5.1g
Fibre: 1.8g
Salt: 117mg

Ingredients

  • 125g SR wholemeal flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 75g sultanas
  • 50g butter
  • 2 tsp vanilla essence
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 2 tbsp sunflower seeds

Notes:

Sourced: Adapted from BBC Goodfoods online recipes.

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