Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie

Sometimes in the course of cancer treatment eating a solid-food meal just isn’t very appealing.  Maybe keeping food down isn’t so easy.  Maybe the smell of food cooking turns you off.  Or maybe you just don’t feel like preparing a full meal.  Here is a quick smoothie recipe that not only provides nutrients but also just tastes really good.  Note that the ingredients can be swapped with others to customize the smoothie for you (for example, the peanut butter can be replaced with other nut butters, the milk can be replaced with almond, soy, rice or other “non-milk” milks, and the honey/sugar ingredients can be replaced with agave or stevia).

Peanuts provide a good source of, among other things, protein, heart-healthy monosaturated fats, vitamin E and folate, and also are a good source of antioxidants.  Some research suggests that peanut consumption may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.  Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and have antacid effects that may be helpful to patients suffering stomach upset connected to their cancer treatments.  They also can help regulate the excretory process and may play a protective role against certain cancers, including kidney cancer.  Enjoy!

4 cups nonfat milk

4 Tbsp. smooth peanut butter

4 frozen bananas

Sugar or honey, to taste (optional)

1/8 to 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. vanilla

In blender, place milk and peanut butter. Blend 30 seconds. Add bananas, sugar or honey, cinnamon and vanilla. Blend until mixture is completely combined. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 smoothies. Per serving: 290 calories, 9 g. total fat (2 g. saturated fat), 44 g. carbohydrates, 13 g. protein, 5 g. dietary fiber, 201 mg. sodium.

(Reprinted with permission from the American Institute for Cancer Research (www.aicr.org)).