Bananas
Bananas have a reputation of being a great source of potassium, but while they are a good source of this nutrient, where bananas really shine is in their vitamin B6 content. This is a very convenient thing because vitamin B6 is key for the development of our brains during pregnancy and infancy. And guess what? Bananas are a favorite first solid for our babies!
Plus, bananas are incredibly versatile. They can add sweetness to our smoothies, they can help us make some delicious nice cream, and they are great for baking goods like, well, banana bread, muffins, or even pancakes. You can even share them, in moderation, with your cats and dogs. Though your dog may enjoy them more.
And bananas, of course, are a very convenient snack to take on-the-go. Just make sure they don’t stay too long in your purse or your kids’ backpacks because they ripen fast and can be stinky and messy once they’re overripe.
You may be concerned about the amount of sugar in bananas, but you’ll be happy to know that, contrary to many people’s beliefs, bananas have a low to medium glycemic index, depending on how ripe they are.
Scroll down to see how much nutrition you and your family can get from eating bananas with our personalized nutrition calculator.
Nutrition Calculator: Bananas
Use our personalized nutrition calculator to discover the percentage of daily nutrition needs you and your family can get from eating bananas.
Nutrition needs vary according to age, sex, and whether women of reproductive age are pregnant or breastfeeding. Fill out the form below for yourself and for your family members to get personalized results.*
* Calculated as a percentage of the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) as established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Based on nutritional information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as an average of multiple banana samples.