Here's How to Build the Perfect Smoothie Bowl + Recipe
Mornings have never tasted so good! A smoothie bowl is just what it sounds like. You make a smoothie, but then you place it in a bowl and top it with whole ingredients. The result? A super delicious and really healthy morning or midday meal. One caution, though – you can’t go crazy with ingredients or you could wind up making it less healthy and more junk foody. A smoothie bowl is just what it sounds like. You make a smoothie, but then you place it in a bowl and top it with whole ingredients. The result? A super delicious and really healthy morning or midday meal. One caution, though – you can’t go crazy with ingredients or you could wind up making it less healthy and more junk foody.
To be honest... If I'm not making a smoothie bowl at home, I tend to be very picky about the places that I order them from. Why? Well... at most smoothie bowl spots, they tend to make these seemingly "good-for-you" bowls heavy in fruit, sweet yogurts, sugar filled nut milks, granola, etc. packing in a ton of sugar and not enough protein. And, while fruit is good for you, these bowls are sugar bombs, and it's not really a well-balanced pick. But, it doesn't have to be that way!
I love health hacking recipes. Naturally, I wanted to hack this health trend.
Here's How to Build the Perfect Smoothie Bowl
So, how can you get the benefits smoothies can provide without overloading on sugar? My suggestion is getting rid of as much sugar as possible:
Swapping flavored yogurt for plain Greek or Icelandic yogurt. (Higher protein count!) Cashew yogurt is also another great alternative.
Don't use sugar, honey or agave nectar to sweeten it up. Opt for Stevia, Monk Fruit or get your sweetness from fresh fruit in season.
Try to incorporate more veggies and a bit less fruit. Instead of a whole banana try half and half an avocado for uber creamy consistency.
As for toppings, I get it. They are all the craze and what make them look so pretty. But don't go overboard with them. Be smart about them. Reach for the almonds, cashews, chia seeds, pumpkin or hemp seeds to boost the protein content of your smoothie bowl, and add healthy fats to your bowl. Coconut and goji berries are also a good pick.
Add a scoop of a plant-based protein or collagen peptides to up the protein content for a more balanced bowl.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for your love of smoothie bowls. I just want to make sure you're doing 'em right. Here's a smoothie bowl recipe I'm currently loving:
Here's How to Build the Perfect Smoothie Bowl
What You'll Need
Smoothie Base:
1 zucchini (frozen)
1 handful baby spinach
1/4 avocado (frozen)
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
2 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds
1 scoop collagen peptides
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp coconut flakes (unsweetened)
3/4 cup cashew milk, unsweetened
a pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt
1 tsp cacao nibs
3 drops stevia
Toppings:
1 tbsp Solstice Canyon cardamom clove almond butter
1 tsp coconut shavings
1 tsp raw pumpkin seeds
What You'll Need To Know
1. In a high-speed blender add 1 zucchini (frozen), 1/4 avocado (frozen), 1 handful baby spinach, 1/4 cup frozen blueberries, 2 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds, 1 scoop collagen peptides, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1 tbsp coconut flakes (unsweetened), 3/4 cup cashew milk unsweetened, a pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt, 1 tsp cacao nibs, 3 drops stevia, and blend for about 30-60 seconds until everything is smooooooth.
2. Pour in a weck jar or tall glass and drizzle with Solstice Canyon cardamom clove almond butter and sprinkle coconut shavings and more pumpkin seeds.