Â
Without a doubt, the best part of publishing a personal post like my Why I Gave Up Running post is reading all of the amazing responses people share.
Seriously, thank you all so much.

I’ll try to make the blog a little more personal in the future, although it’s difficult because most of the personal stuff in my life involves other people. To respect the privacy of my real-world friends, I have a rule to not write about them or post their photos, which is why most of the pictures you see on this blog are of just me.
For today, you get another recipe… with chocolate. Hopefully you won’t mind. 😉
![]()
I’m honored to feature a recipe today from Tosca Reno, a New York Times best-selling author and one of the most well-respected and influential figures in the world of healthy food. This bread pudding recipe comes from her Eat Clean Diet Vegetarian Cookbook, which contains 150 meat-free recipes free of processed ingredients, refined sugars, and anything artificial (note to vegetarians: there is a chapter on fish).
The book, which comes with complete nutritional information for every recipe, is divided into ten chapters from breakfast to dessert. It also covers topics such as how to be a healthy vegetarian, eating vegetarian on a budget, and making fast-food and holiday recipes. Upon receiving the cookbook in the mail, I right away bookmarked at least fifteen things I wanted to make. With bananas, cinnamon, and chocolate chips, this healthy bread pudding was obviously on top of the list!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Pudding
(Adapted from Eat Clean Diet Vegetarian Cookbook, reprinted with permission)
- 2 1/2 cups (640ml) milk of choice
- 3 tbsp (45ml) arrowroot or cornstarch
- 1/4 cup (60ml) sucanat or sugar of choice
- 1/3 cup (80ml) pure maple syrup
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 5 cups day-old bread, torn into 1-to-2-inch pieces, lightly packed
- 2 extra-ripe bananas, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 to 1 cup (120-240ml) chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350F (177C). Grease a 1.5 to 2-quart ceramic dish and set aside. Thoroughly whisk together all but last three ingredients in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients, and stir to combine, mashing the bananas a little and allowing the bread to absorb most of the liquid. Scrape into the prepared dish, and press down to smooth the top. Let sit 15 minutes so bread absorbs more liquid, then bake uncovered until lightly brown and firm (about 30 minutes). Serve warm. For questions about this recipe or substitutions, please feel free to ask this recipe’s creator, Tosca Reno!
View Bread Pudding Nutrition Facts

Quick Giveaway!
For the chance to win your own copy of Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Diet Vegetarian Cookbook, simply leave a comment answering the following question: What is your favorite meatless meal?
















My favourite meatless meal is quesadillas! Filled with sliced red peppers, onions, some spices, grated cheese and sour cream – it’s filling and so tasty!
Hi Katie!
Long time lurker here, posting for the first time! I love your site, especially as I recently became vegetarian. My favorite meatless meal is probably a good Asian stir fry, with lots of fresh green beans, mushrooms, and fried tofu. Also…french fries. How could I forget fries?
Keep up the good work!
Miso soup 🙂
Probably good old oatmeal or tofu-stir fry 🙂
Fajitas loaded with onions, peppers, squash and a big ol’ scoop of guac on top!
Smashed Potato Soup, no meat but 100% delicious!
My favorite meatless meal is a Spicy African Peanut Stew.
That is cruel and beautiful at the same time. I WANT THAT NOW! And I really kind of want that cookbook now too. And, I have liked your facebook page, but in all truths, don’t like it. I LOVE it.
Aw thank you!
This would be so good with some kind of caramel sauce. Or made with eggnog instead of milk. And somehow still be healthy? Maybe not…
Ooo, how I would love that cookbook! 🙂 My favorite meatless meal these days is Quinoa-Kale, which has quinoa, kale, chickpeas, raisins, & cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle some walnuts on top, and YUM! Here’s the recipe I started with:
http://veggienook.com/2012/07/05/quinoa-with-kale-raisins-and-chickpeas/
My favorite meatless meal is the Ethiopian vegetable sampler platter at any Ethiopian dining establishment.
A kale salad with homemade balsamic, rice vinegar and honey dressing topped with almonds, dried cranberries and goat cheese! Yum!
My favorite meatless meal (of the moment) is warm minestrone with field roast sausage! thanks so much for the giveaway!
my favorite meatless meal… vegetarian pizza!
My favorite meatless meal is the ultimate veggie burger! How delicious and good for you at the same time! I love your recipes and am looking foward to making some CCK desserts this holiday season 🙂
My favorite meatless meal is black bean enchiladas.