Two years ago, Japanese supermarkets couldn’t keep bananas on the shelves after a man revealed the secret of his weight-loss success on a leading social network. Now a healthier version of his diet is catching on in America, thanks to the fruit and nutrition experts at Dole.

The Go Bananas 2-A-Day Challenge was originally created in 2009 by the Dole Nutrition Institute as a healthier sequel to Japan’s phenomenally popular Morning Banana Diet.

Dole nutritionists created a comprehensive two-week regimen of lunches, dinners and snacks to help participants boost their energy, increase their intake of fruits and vegetables and improve their overall health while they lose weight.

Go Bananas 2-A-Day Challenge participants begin each day with two bananas and at least eight ounces of water, a combination that specifically aids in weight loss.

The Go Bananas Challenge follows the morning banana routine with a medley of 14 lunch and dinner recipes that combine lean chicken or fish with fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat cheeses, wheat pasta, long-grain rice and salads.

While participants can choose among fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts for their daily afternoon snack, sugar-based desserts and alcohol are strictly off-limits. The plan also advocates that followers drink water only with every meal, finish eating by 8 p.m. each day and go to bed by midnight.

Special dishes included in the plan range from Curried Spinach Soup and Warm Thai-style Scallop and Mango Salad to Spinach and Chicken Stir Fry with Raspberries and Honey Mustard-glazed Salmon with Fruit Salsa.

Courtesy of Family Secrets

6….boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2….cups chunk canned pineapple, drained
¼..cup pineapple juice
½   cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
¼   cup green bell pepper, chopped
1      tbsp green onio, chopped
2     tsp fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
2     tbsp jalapeño chilies, chopped

Grill or broil chicken 5 to 10 minutes on each side or until chicken is no longer pink in the center. Combine pineapple chunks, juice, bell pepper, onions, cilantro and chilies in bowl. Serve salsa with grilled or broiled chicken.

For more information, recipes, serving suggestions and nutritional information, go to www.dole.com/bananas.