The Handy & Delicious Smoothie Bowl: What It Is and How to Make One
A big trend in nutrition and healthy foods out there right is a smoothie bowl, but a lot of people are stumped as to what it is exactly. Do you just dump a regular old smoothie into a bowl and call it bueno?
This article will answer all of your smoothie bowl questions, and better yet, teach you how to make one at home for yourself!
How to Make a Yummy Smoothie Bowl At Home
Before we go any further let’s talk about what a smoothie bowl actually IS. A smoothie bowl is kind of like a smoothie and yogurt parfait combined but with a kick (the kick being yummier and healthier). They are thicker than a smoothie and have the perfect blend of ingredients to keep you feeling satisfied all morning long.
The great thing about smoothie bowls is that the possibilities are ENDLESS. They don’t have to be boring or traditional – you can make them however you want! No real rules, just a simple formula for a successful breakfast (or lunch, or dinner, or dessert, whatever floats your boat).
Here is our recipe:
- 1 Part Frozen Fruit
- 1 – 2 Parts Greens
- 1 Part Healthy Fat
- 1 Part Superfoods
- Ice
- Liquid
Pretty simple right? Find what you have in your fridge and pantry and go to town!!! Let’s break it down even more, and at the end, you will have some awesome ideas to get you started.
Frozen Fruits
You can pretty much use whatever fruit you want here. Apples, bananas, pears, lemons, grapefruit, oranges, raspberries, mango, pineapple – you name it! The key here is that when these fruits are frozen, they blend to make a thicker and creamier base for your smoothie bowl. Feel free to add non-frozen fruits, but we recommend making your base with them being extra cold.
Quick Tip: If you don’t buy your fruits frozen already, we recommend peeling and dicing your fruits before you stick them in the freezer. Putting them in single serving bags will save you time and make the whole process easier!
Greens
We recommend things like kale, spinach, and romaine. But you don’t have to stick with the leafy stuff! Celery and cucumber also add some great value to your smoothie bowl blend.
Healthy Fats
You’re probably not a newbie when it comes to eating healthy, but there are such things as healthy fats. Ingredients like avocados, coconut oil, and chia seeds do great things for your body, especially when paired with healthy greens!
Pretty much any nuts and seeds you have on hand go great on top of your smoothie bowl as an added yummy crunch!
Quick Tip: Avocados are amazing and make your smoothie bowl extra creamy and smooth. It’s also a superfood!
Proteins
We don’t mean fish or chicken, though it is YOUR smoothie bowl so do what you want! We do however, recommend plant-based protein powders, nut butter, hemp seeds, and other ingredients along those lines.
Superfoods
Ok if you just google “superfoods” you might get a little overwhelmed at the number of superfoods there actually are. We narrowed it down here to our favorites that could make an excellent addition to your smoothie bowl!
- Greek Yogurt
- Quinoa
- Spinach
- Blueberries
- Kale
- Chia
- Oatmeal
- Green Tea
- Strawberries
- Almonds
- Ginger
- Beets
- Pumpkin
- Apples
- Avocados
- Cinnamon
- Cayenne
Did you get enough? We hope so! We are sure you’ve noticed some of these are repeats on a few of these categories. Which kind of makes those things even more awesome (looking at you avocado and spinach!) and again, we encourage you to make this thing however you want!
Liquids
We recommend almond milk or other non-dairy or low-fat milk to help with the creaminess, but coconut water and green tea are great bases as well! Even filtered water works well to help blend up this delicious bowl of happiness.
Add a little ice to help keep it refreshing and to help thicken your smoothie bowl and you’ll be golden. Remember that different combinations of different ingredients will mean different consistencies.
If you need an extra sweetener, try a spoonful of honey, agave, or add some Stevia. Not too much though, the fruits are usually sweet enough!
Quick Tip: If you like really creamy smoothies, frozen bananas and nut butter will help make your bowl thick and delicious!
Easy Smoothie Bowl Combinations To Make You Drool
Ok now you’re up to date on what makes a smoothie bowl. But you might be lacking in ideas. Don’t you fret – just keep reading for a few inspirational and tasty combinations!
Vegan Berry Crunch Smoothie Bowl
Blend together baby spinach or kale, almond milk, frozen mixed berries, and a frozen banana. Top with strawberry slices, blueberries, banana, granola and chia seeds! YUMMO. Get the exact recipe here.
Coconut Oats Smoothie Bowl
This tasty looking recipe has oats, coconut milk, chia seeds, bananas, dark chocolate, mango, AND crunchy black sesame quinoa cereal that almost sounds too healthy to eat. Make the quinoa cereal beforehand and add it to any smoothie bowl your heart desires! Drooling yet?
Green Smoothie Bowl
Who would we be if we didn’t include a superfoods bowl? This delightfully bright recipe includes a frozen banana, frozen blueberries, avocado, spinach, kale, and almond milk! Top it with granola, chia seeds, drizzled almond butter, and more frozen fruit. TASTY!
Now that you’re an expert in smoothie bowls, you can make them at home and try hundreds of different combinations! If all of this sounds like too much for you but you’re still looking for something healthy and delicious, Well Pared has granola bowls and smoothies that are sure to hit the spot for whatever you’re craving!
