Healthy Carrot Loaf

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I grew up eating really healthy food. We ate whole grains and I wasn’t allowed to eat tasty things like white bread, Cheez whiz or sugary cereals because they were ‘junk food’. Dessert was a very rare treat. My Mom regularly shopped at health food stores, which in the 1970’s, was a pretty hippyish thing to do; hence the reason she was deemed a ‘health nut’ by the other neighborhood mothers. So in Grade 3 health class, when we were asked to record what we had for breakfast one random day, you can only imagine my mother’s mortification when I came home with my food chart and under the breakfast category it read, “CAKE”.

It’s not like cake was something we commonly ate, much less for breakfast. But for some reason, that was the day she happened to give in to our begging and pleading for one of Baba’s baked treats she had sent home with us on the weekend.  Mom claims that it was more like a rhubarb loaf, not a cake, and at the time thought, ‘How bad can it be? Rhubarb is a vegetable after all.” But I guess it seemed like cake to me!

There are so many breakfasts out there that are loaded with excessive sugar and fat that you may as well be eating cake. But not this one! This carrot bread is healthier than many of the other carrot loaf recipes because it isn’t loaded with sugar and fat inside and doesn’t have a glaze or icing on the outside. The extra sugar and calories are just not necessary. So, if you want a healthy carrot bread that tastes like you are eating cake for breakfast, but without the fat and sugar, then give this one a try!

I relate to how my Mom felt when I had a similar thing happen to me with my daughter over Christmas.

Cake for breakfast is a thing:

I was recently perusing the 2018 food trends and came across the cake for breakfast trend. Apparently this is now a thing. The article went on to say that basically sometimes you just gotta treat yourself. And although I am really all about treating myself and eating cake, I just can’t bring myself to do cake for breakfast! All that sugar just sends me right up, then crashing right down again…. hard. And it just seems all wrong – like having a beer for breakfast.  I’d rather leave the cake (and beer) for PM indulgences.

On the other hand, my kids are always trying to get cake for breakfast. Sometimes I admire the tenacity, but mostly it’s annoying. My pat answer is “Are you new here? When have we ever had cake for breakfast? ” But I guess I can’t blame them for trying; it did work for me that one time.

But this healthy Carrot Bread will make you think you are eating cake –  it’s that good! And without all the extra sugar and fat. I will eat it as a breakfast, snack or dessert. It’s chock-full of real ingredients like non-fat yogurt, whole wheat, and carrots of course, and it’s only 165 calories per slice!

If you are looking for a similar recipe, my Old Fashioned Date Nut Loaf  is another healthy breakfast bread that has stood the test of time, having been handed down through six generations. It’s also healthy, chock-full of real, whole ingredients and perfect for the lunch bag.

My kids love this healthy carrot loaf too! And getting kids to like eating healthy food is not always an easy feat, especially when they’d rather be eating cake. Kids  are relentless and will try to get anything and everything they can out of you- especially junk food. And they are very good at it. They are also very skilled at flying under the radar when they want and need to. My daughter is an excellent example of that.

Is popcorn for breakfast a future trend?

While we were visiting some relatives over Christmas, for some odd reason, someone asked my daughter what she had for breakfast that day and she replied, “popcorn and a slushy.” I can assure you that was not one of my proudest parenting moments. Although I wasn’t even in charge that morning (my Mom was), I couldn’t very well throw Grandma under the bus. Plus, I know that my daughter had slept really late, they were in a rush to get to the noon movie, my daughter will do just about anything to avoid a healthy breakfast and it was easy to fly under the radar when Grandma had 4 kids to wrangle on her own. So, I wore that one. But I guess, in retrospect, I should just be happy that my Mom didn’t give her cake for breakfast, given her penchant for such things 🙂

So, if you want to feel like you’re eating cake for breakfast, without actually eating cake for breakfast, save the cake for a PM indulgence and indulge in some of this Healthy Carrot Loaf!

Help in the kitchen!

I have this food processor and I love it:

I also have these Wilton pans and love them!

5 from 1 vote

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Healthy Carrot Loaf

This healthy and easy carrot loaf recipe is quick, simple to make and full of real wholesome ingredients, like whole wheat flour and yogurt! It makes a great lunchbox snack or dessert.

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine North American

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 12 slices

Calories 137 kcal

Ingredients

• ¾ cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 egg
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• ¾ cup non -fat plain greek yogurt ( or regular yogurt)
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ¾ tsp vanilla
• 1 cup shredded carrots

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

   Spray a 9X5 loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. 

2. Combine flours, spices, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl beat egg till fluffy, beat in oil, then add in yogurt, sugar, and vanilla. Stir in carrots. Add flour mixture and stir until combined.
4. Pour into prepared loaf pan.
5. Bake at 350F for approximately 50 minutes or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted comes out clean.
6. Let cool in pan 5 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely.

Recipe Notes

NOTE: * Shredded your carrots with food processor then freeze them in 1 or 2 cup bags (I do both)

NOTE ** Optional: You can add a 1/2 cup finely chopped pineapple (fresh or canned). Just make sure you squeeze out the liquid. It's a really nice addition. But you'll potentially need to cook the loaf 8-10 minutes longer (I did) or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Nutrition Facts

Healthy Carrot Loaf

Amount Per Serving

Calories 137 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 4g 6%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Cholesterol 14mg 5%

Sodium 125mg 5%

Potassium 146mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates 22g 7%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 9g

Protein 3g 6%

Vitamin A 36%

Vitamin C 0.8%

Calcium 5.2%

Iron 4.7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This post is part of The Country Cook’s Weekend Potluck