Today’s National Zucchini Bread Day!–for real! Get YOUR veggie bread energy on by eating this delicious and nutritious snack!

The zucchini’s got hydrating water and fiber to help keep your energy boost lasting longer & it’s got potassium to relax your muscles so they can recharge! There’s nothing better at giving you energy than the combination of bread (when it’s whole grain) to give you carbs for brain and muscle fuel AND a veggie like zucchini. This yummy boost will give you energy so that you could make Zucchini Bread all day, if you’d like!

Zucchini Bread

From EatingWell.com

Try it with toasted walnuts or raisins, or add chocolate chips for a more dessertlike bread. Freeze 2-cup portions of shredded zucchini so you can make zucchini bread all year long

1 loaf, 12 slices

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup low-fat milk
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups shredded zucchini
• 2 cups white whole-wheat flour (see Note)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

Whisk milk, eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla in a medium bowl. Stir in zucchini. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl; stir in the wet ingredients and chocolate chips (if using) until just combined. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan.

Bake until golden brown and a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Let cool for at least 1 hour before slicing.

Tips & Notes
Make Ahead Tip: Wrap and store at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. | Equipment: 9-by-5-inch loaf pan

Note: White whole-wheat flour, made from a special variety of white wheat, is light in color and flavor but has the same nutritional properties as regular whole-wheat flour. It is available at large supermarkets and natural-foods stores and online at bobsredmill.com or kingarthurflour.com. Store it in the freezer.

Nutrition
Per Slice: 197 calories; 7 g fat ( 1 g sat , 4 g mono ); 32 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrates; 13 g added sugars; 4 g protein; 2 g fiber; 209 mg sodium; 108 mg potassium.

Have you ever made zucchini bread? What do you add to it?