WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — The great American banana split can taste decadently delicious without all the fat and calories.
That’s the word from the nation’s largest banana supplier as the country approaches National Banana Split Day on Tuesday, August 25. In honor of the holiday, DOLE® Bananas seeks to peel back the 1,000-plus calories of the traditional banana-based dessert and encourage the public to celebrate the holiday with healthier versions of the iconic treat.
Created by a 23-year-old Latrobe, Pa., pharmacist in 1904, the banana split is one of America’s favorite desserts. At an average of 1,000 calories, it’s also one of the country’s biggest nutrition offenders. Planting its flag on the Aug. 25 holiday to offer banana and dessert fans healthier alternatives, Dole is hosting a nationwide Twitter Party to spotlight new healthier banana split recipes, and invite ‘Split lovers nationwide to share their favorite ways to enjoy a more nutritious take on this classic American dessert.
On Aug. 25 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. EDT (5 p.m. to 6 p.m. PDT), banana lovers, foodies, bloggers and healthy eating fans nationwide are encouraged to participate in the event co-hosted by Dole and blogger Kathy Patalsky by Tweeting @DoleTweets or @LunchBoxBunch using the hashtag #BananaSplitDay with creative blog posts, recipes, photos and ideas for the perfect “No-guilt Split.”
Healthier banana split recipes developed by Dole feature low-calorie, low-fat ingredients such as fresh fruits, greek yogurt, vanilla sorbet, honey and other healthy toppings. These recipes include Dole Honey Pomegranate Banana Split, and Red White and Blue Banana Split, which both come in at only 270 calories per serving. Other healthy recipes include Dole Banana Berry Splitz and a new Grilled Tropical Split recipe developed for the brand’s yearlong Get Up and Grow! initiative. Dole will Tweet the recipes for the surprisingly decadent desserts Tuesday during the National Banana Split Day Twitter party.
National Banana Split Day Twitter Party
· Tuesday, August 25
· 8 p.m. – 9 p.m. EDT (5 p.m. – 6 p.m. PST)
· Hashtag: #BananaSplitDay
· Hosted by @DoleTweets and @LunchBoxBunch
And where there are banana fans you will find Dole. So as part of its commitment to celebrating National Banana Split Day, Dole is also supporting the third annual Great American Banana Split Celebration in Latrobe, Pa., held August 28-30, 2015. This annual celebration of the classic American dessert began in 2013 when the City of Latrobe received official recognition as the birthplace of the banana split and unveiled a historical marker on the exact location where the dish was invented in 1904. The celebration has grown to include a weekend of festivities, tastings, games and attractions honoring America’s favorite yellow fruit and the iconic dessert it inspired. In addition to providing the thousands of bananas needed for the weekend-long event, Dole is promoting the new banana split recipes to encourage healthier ways for participants to celebrate the annual holiday.
For more information on the Great American Banana Split Celebration August 28-30 in Latrobe, Pa., please visit http://bananasplitfest.com/.
For more information on DOLE Bananas, including recipes, serving suggestions and other information, go to www.dole.com/getupandgrow or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dole or www.twitter.com/doletweets, respectively.
About DOLE Bananas
DOLE is the top-selling banana in America — in both conventional and organic product categories. From its founding by James Drummond Dole, the company has built its reputation on a ceaseless commitment to quality. Today, the DOLE brand stands for more than 150 years of quality produce — and one of the world’s largest suppliers of fresh fruits and vegetables, including bananas. Dole strives to grow, produce, harvest, transport and distribute its bananas and other produce in the most environmentally and socially conscious way possible.
About Dole Food Company, Inc.
Dole Food Company is one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, Dole is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.
Source: Dole Food Company, Inc.
