Delicious Sugar-Free Banana Pancakes with Date Syrup

So the Sugar-Free Battle? Am I winning the WAR (and people its like a real war zone here let me tell you)? Sugar gave meaning to my day; it was like that little treat I looked forward to consistently each day so I seriously felt like I did when I had to quit smoking with my firstborn...total withdrawl - yeah it was bad people.

I won't say that there haven't been weak moments; I won't say I haven't succumbed to temptation and had the odd bit here and there (like an unfinished child's ice cream cone - oh yeah I did the that). However overall I have made a drastic transformation in the amount of sugar I consume. How hard it has been has convinced me what a drug sugar is. The first week is the hardest and then it gets easier and easier.

However you have to find something to substitute. The hard part for me is in the middle of the afternoon and the evening. I make a half pitcher of vegetable juice with a bit of fruit and greens in it. This makes me feel super-powered. You want to change your habits you need to find a substitute whether it is drinking water or fruit juice, chewing gum, painting toenails, etc. And you have to keep it up for 30 days because that is how long it takes to change your habits. And you gotta keep moving forward and get over your messups and mishaps. Just try to do better the next day!

So that being said my sugar-free recipe of the week is pancakes! Yay! Who doesn't like them some pancakes?

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I make a big batch of these with "help" from kids and we put a piece of saran wrap in between each one and throw them in a zip-lock into the freezer for a quick microwaveable breakfast during the week (Not the best but hey you gotta give youself some leeway for those weaker mornings during the week). My recipe uses barley and whole wheat flour and doesn't sacrifice any of the fluffy factor of white flour.

Going sugar-free myself has meant big changes in the amount of sugar my kids consume in their diets as well as mine - and that is that little carrot that keeps me going!

 Sugar Free Barley Whole Wheat Pancakes with Date Syrup

1/2 cup barley flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
3 TBSP baking powder
1 pureed mashed banana
2 eggs
1 cup soy milk(or milk or milk substitute)
2 TBSP coconut oil(or grapeseed or other light oil)
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch nutmeg

1) Mix together flour, salt, baking powder and nutmeg.
2) Beat eggs and mix together with milk, banana, oil and vanilla.
3) Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until mixed together
4) Heat pan over medium heat with 1 TBSP coconut oil or other oil or butter.
5) Cook until bubbles appear and then flip.
5) Puree 1/2 cup dates with just enough water to allow it to mix into a syrup like paste.
6) Serve pancakes with date syrup.

I'm not saying this is I-HOP quality, but it is seriously a pretty delicious recipe if you are going sugar-free. Kids love love loved it too!!! Did I mention I'm down two pounds this week?

xoxo

The Home and Happy Housewife