A Bunch of Banana Tips and Snack Ideas to Sweeten Any Day

Bananas are not just a delicious and versatile fruit; they also have the power to fuel your runs and workouts plus brighten up your day in unexpected ways. Whether you’re a banana lover or just looking for some fun, practical tips, these ideas will bring a smile to your face. Let’s dive into five banana tips that will leave you grinning from ear to ear!

1) Write a Clever Note on the Peel to Make a Banana Lover’s Day

Sometimes, it’s the small gestures that make the biggest impact. Before sending someone off with a banana, why not add a little personalized note right on the peel? Use a pen to gently inscribe a sweet message, or even a funny doodle. Whether it’s a motivational quote, a simple “Have a great day!” or an inside joke, this tiny touch can turn an ordinary snack into a delightful surprise.

Here are some romantic banana-inspired message ideas:

  • I find you a-peeling!
  • Let’s monkey around!
  • I’m bananas for you!
  • Love you a bunch!
  • Let’s never split!

2) Slow Down Ripening with a Simple Trick

Ever bought a bunch of bananas only to watch them go from perfectly ripe to overly brown in what feels like minutes? A simple way to slow down the ripening process is to wrap the stems in plastic food wrap. This trick works by trapping the ethylene gas that bananas naturally release, which is responsible for ripening. If you’re feeling a bit extra, there are even adorable reusable Nana Hats that do the job just as well while adding a fun touch to your fruit display (see my watermelon one in the video).

3) Get Dicey: How to Cut the Perfect Banana Topping for Breakfast: Here’s a morning routine hack for you! Instead of slicing bananas the usual way, try dicing them into small cubes, while still in the skin. This cross-hatch dicing technique is perfect for topping your oatmeal, yogurt, or cereal – or to stir into pancake batter. The small pieces are easier to mix in and give you a delightful burst of banana in every bite.

4) Freeze Chocolate-Covered Banana Slices for a Healthy Treat: Craving something sweet but trying to stay on the healthier side? Try slicing up some bananas and dipping them in melted chocolate. Freeze the slices for a few hours, and you’ll have a delicious, guilt-free treat that satisfies your sweet tooth. These frozen delights are perfect for a quick snack, dessert, or even as a fun treat to share with friends and family. You can also get creative by adding a sprinkle of sea salt, popped amaranth or quinoa, or chopped nuts before freezing. Check out my Crispy Chocolate Banana Bites recipe.

Treat your sweet tooth to this healthy snack - a sugar-free crispy chocolate inspired by a Nestle Crunch bar, nut butter and banana slices! Prep a batch and store in the freezer. Gluten-free and only 84 cal per piece

5) Create a Peanut Butter Banana Sundae for the Ultimate Banana Snack: Bananas and peanut butter (or other nut and/or seed butters you prefer) are a match made in heaven, and this sundae takes it to the next level. Start by slicing a banana lengthwise and spreading a generous layer of peanut butter on top. Add your favorite toppings—think granola, chocolate chips, or a drizzle of honey—and you’ve got yourself a smart and satisfying snack. Whether you enjoy it as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up or a post-workout treat, this peanut butter banana sundae is sure to hit the spot.

Enjoy these banana tips, and don’t forget to share the joy with others! Whether you’re adding a bit of fun to someone’s day or treating yourself to a healthy snack, bananas are here to make life a little sweeter.

9 Fruit & Veggie Tips to Simplify Clean Eating, Prevent Food Waste

Less face it, eating clean can often feel like a chore, especially when it comes to produce. Fruits and vegetables can be a hassle to prep or store, and often go bad before they can be consumed. 9 Healthy Hacks - Fruit & Veggie Tips

Adding these helpful hacks for fruits and vegetables can help ensure success in your journey to eat clean, make prep and clean-up easier, and also reduce food waste! Win-win-win! Continue reading

How to Soften an Avocado in the Microwave!

Are you ready to have your avocado-loving mind blow? In a pinch, you can soften a rock-hard avocado in the microwave in 2 minutes or less!

How to Soften Avocados in the Microwave

Most of us know that firm avocados take a couple days or more to achieve that magical yet fleeting soft, creamy state, even using tricks like storing next to a banana, sticking in a brown paper bag, or even burying in a canister of flour. When you need a soft avocado STAT and not “someday,” this microwave trick (probably my best of many avocado hacks yet), will save the day.

Please note, this is not the very most OPTIMAL way to enjoy a softer avocado, because obviously that would be natural avocado ripening. But like I said, sometimes we just don’t have time for that! It’s still an effective avocado softening solution that can help your satisfactorily get of a pinch at meal time.

You're the Avocado to my Toast

Pick an avocado:  Choose your avocado to “ripen” in the microwave. This will be a hard avocado, not yielding to gentle pressure – because if it does have that “give,” it’s ready to be cut or mashed up and devoured. This technique works best with rock hard to very firm avocados. For example, the avocados I used could not even be cut in half and twisted from the seed. If that seed (pit) seems too hard to get out, an avocado tool can help and is much safer than a knife.

Prepare the avocado: There’s not much to do, except use a fork or small paring knife to add a few prick marks to allow any steam forming to escape. While some have suggested removing the seed before microwaving an avocado, I find that it holds the heat that helps soften the avocado from the middle.

Microwave the avocado: Set whole avocado in center of microwave and use “defrost” or “low” setting to microwave in 30 second intervals. Between each 30 second blast, allow avocado to sit for 30 more seconds to slowly and gently used the heat that is building up in the seed. I usually do 3 to 4 cooking increments (totaling1:30 to 2 minutes of cook time). Use care when removing avocado from microwave, it may feel like a hot potato. When cool enough to touch, gently squeeze to ensure desired softness. If still hard, microwave for another increment or two, until done. Please not that these directions will vary based on 1) the avocado size, 2) the avocado ripeness, 3) the wattage of your microwave, and 4) fate.

How to Soften Avocados in the Microwave -- learn hot to turn a rock-hard avocado into a creamy, ready-to-eat fruit in 5 minutes. A great hack when you're in pinch for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Use the avocado: Once avocado has cooled enough to handle, it may be sliced, diced or smashed and used as any other avocado. Try my Avocado & Tuna Salad or Grilled Avocado Boats with Blistered Tomatoes

The only caveat to this avocado hack is that the taste may not be as blissfully “avocado” as ripening the natural way. Some have said this microwave hack “diminishes” the taste – I didn’t find that to be true. What you will be tasting is an avocado that is not fully ripe but has been tricked into being soft – how can something be diminished, if it has not acquired its fully state of being. There I go being philosophical about fruit again!

Regardless, this little trick is a lifesaver if you realize you have a company coming and your investment in avocados aren’t cooperating. So, you’ll just add a little more lime juice and garlic to your guacamole, the creaminess will still be there!  I was able to put this hack to the test in a big way when I realized I had about 20 pounds of avocado “rocks” last weekend when two hours away from teaching a class on how to grill produce – including grilled avocados.

Also, if you don’t use up the entire avocado in your meal, I’m a fan of this reusable silicone avocado “hugger” cover.

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Check out my other amazing avocado hacks that will change your life!

Disclaimer: this post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Let me know if you tried this avocado softening trick and how it worked for you.