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Smoothie bowls are all over Instagram, and for good reason! Not only are they super aesthetic, smoothie bowls are great for your body – a rare food that’s both delicious and healthy! There’s a smoothie bowl for every type of fruit you love, but here are five great smoothie recipes to start taking them as is or creating your own combinations!
1. Berry smoothie bowl
Berry smoothie bowls are a great first smoothie bowl due to their versatility and flexibility. Throw your favorite berries into the mix and you have a delicious bowl! (click on the title for the original recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup organic frozen mixed berries
- 1 small ripe banana
- 2-3 tablespoons light coconut or almond milk
- 1 tbsp plain or vanilla protein powder (optional)
Instructions
- Add frozen berries and banana to a blender and blend over low heat until small chunks remain
- Add a little coconut or almond milk and protein powder (optional) and mix again over low heat, scraping the sides as needed, until the mixture reaches a soft consistency
- Transfer to a bowl and serve
2. Green smoothie bowl
On the healthier side, a green smoothie bowl is the delicious alternative to eating unsavory vegetables. For this bowl, I like to add a splash of maple syrup or vanilla yogurt just to make it a little sweeter. (click on the title for the original recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 cups spinach
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
- 1 banana
- 1/2 avocado
- Ice, to thicken
Instructions
- Add spinach, almond milk, chia seeds, banana and avocado to blender
- Transfer to a bowl and serve
3. Mango smoothie bowl
The taste of this mango smoothie will transport you to hot weather, whether it’s summer or not!
Ingredients
- 2 large mangoes (peeled, chopped and frozen)
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup almond milk
- 2 teaspoons of honey
- 1 frozen banana
Instructions
- Place the frozen mango, frozen banana, milks and honey into your blender and blend until smooth
- Pour the smoothie into a bowl and enjoy!
Topping Ideas for Any Smoothie Bowl
One of the best things about smoothie bowls is the topping options. While toppings are included in all of the recipes linked above, here are some ideas for toppings you can mix and match with these bowls and more.
- banana slices
- Strawberry slices
- blueberries
- blackberries
- Peanut Butter
- Chia seeds
- Flaked almonds
- Grated coconut
- Chocolate chips
- Granola
- Mango pieces
- Raisins
Why Smoothie Bowls?
Smoothie bowls have many health benefits, the first being the amount of fiber they can hold in a bowl. Unlike juices, smoothie bowls retain the fiber in fruits and vegetables, which helps you feel full longer. After eating a good sized smoothie bowl, it will help you avoid hunger and unhealthy snacking later in the day. In addition to fiber, most smoothie bowls are also rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, including vitamin C, manganese, and potassium. However, the bowls are not high in protein, so supplementing them with eggs or cheese would make a great meal to start the day off right.
Second, these bowls are suitable for picky eaters! An important part of smoothie bowls is the fact that they can adjust their flavor to whatever you want them to be. As you can see from the recipes above, smoothie bowls vary greatly depending on what you put in them. You can tweak any recipe or create your own to create a bowl you both love and are uniquely yours. Whatever type of fruit you like, there’s a bowl for you!
Smoothie Bowl VS Smoothie
Although a smoothie bowl and a smoothie involve the mixing of ingredients, the two are not the same. While a smoothie is treated like a drink that comes with a meal, a smoothie bowl can be treated like the meal itself. However, the biggest difference is in the texture, which allows the smoothie bowl to contain other ingredients, such as nuts and granola, that help sustain you throughout the day. The smoothie bowl invites customization, as there is a wide array of toppings to choose from. Although the smoothie and the smoothie bowl are built on the same concept, it’s up to you whether you prefer a mixed fruit drink or your whole meal!
Smoothie bowls are a delicious way to stay healthy this summer. With endless combinations, use these recipes as a springboard and build your custom smoothie bowl from there! Enjoy!