The banana is an excellent choice for a portable, palatable,
nutritious food. If you've ever watched a distance race, you've
seen runners reach for bananas. The starchy carbohydrates in a
banana provide quick energy and are a good source of water and
an excellent source of potassium—an electrolyte which is
necessary for the heart, nervous system and kidneys to function
optimally. Nutritionally, a banana is a powerful package. A
medium banana—about seven inches long—contains 105 calories, 27
grams carbohydrate, 3 grams fiber, 422 mg potassium and 10 mg
vitamin C. There's less than half of a gram of fat and only 1
gram of sodium. For optimum eating, choose a plump, evenly
colored yellow banana flecked with tiny brown specks. The specks
indicate ripeness, but blemishes indicate bruising. Easy to eat
Bananas are easy to eat and easy to digest. Mashed banana is one
of the first solid foods given to a baby. Bananas are versatile.
Blend with yogurt, berries, and ice for a smoothie, or use in
recipes for banana bread