How to Make A Delicious Smoothie Bowl!

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There’s a new craze in the natural world-Move over you plain ole’ smoothies in a glass!  Say hello to spooning up your smoothies in a bowl!  At first I wondered what the point was and what the difference was, but after mastering the “art” of the bowl, I’m quite enjoying this new trend!

That being said, there’s a huge learning curve on how to get your smoothie smooth, creamy and thick.  Today I’m going to help you skip the dry runs and make a mouth watering smoothie bowl on your first attempt!

I think I’ve made it pretty evident that I love my daily smoothies. From my sunshine kale smoothie to my beautiful skin smoothie and my drink your veggies smoothie-I have experimented with quite a few different smoothie combinations. Oh, and don’t forget the banana spiralina smoothie! Making a thicker smoothie and even adding items to bulk it up-nutritionwise can be a great way to reduce calories, lighten up your eating and shed the Covid-15! 

How to Thicken a Smoothie Bowl:

The only difference between a smoothie and a smoothie bowl is that a smoothie bowl is thicker and eaten with a spoon. In order to thicken your smoothie, less liquid should be added. This is truly the key. Frozen fruit makes a huge difference and ice can help as well. Plus, the creamier the better! Bananas and avocados go a long way when it comes to creaminess. Full fat Greek yogurt is a great way to add a smooth texture as well! 

Are Smoothie Bowls Healthy?

This is a very valid question. Often times you can overload your smoothie with sugar and have no idea. Be careful to balance the sugars in fruits like pineapples, mangos, apples and bananas with a sugar free liquid and less sugary toppings. Remember that berries are high in antioxidants and low in sugar so they are a fantastic choice for a healthier smoothie. 

Also be aware of yogurts. There are some oh so delicious yogurts out there but HOLY COW are they full of sugar. 

Adding juices like apple juice or orange juice is often over kill and not necessary. You might be surprised that if you choose your fruits well, water is sufficient as your liquid. 

Nut butters are yummy in your smoothie but a low quality peanut butter can actually add a lot of unnatural ingredients and sugar.

When you find a smoothie bowl recipe you like, you might track the nutrition to make sure you’re not overloading with a ton of fat, sugar and carbs. 

Tips & Tricks for Making the Perfect Smoothie Bowl

1. Freeze your bowl first!
2. Use ONLY frozen fruit.  A frozen banana really helps!
3. Toppings make the bowl-Get creative with textures.  Hint: Throwing some organic cereal, graham crackers or even a cookie are great incentive to get kiddos to spoon it up!
4. Add in tasteless nutrition like raw spinach leaves, chia seeds and ground flax seed.  This is especially helpful if you are trying to make a meal out of your bowl.
5. Drizzle honey and a dash of cinnamon on the top-It makes your bowl simply out-of-this-world!
6. Because smoothie bowls melt FAST, have your toppings ready to go before you’ve blended your smoothie.
7. Add your liquid as your blending so that you only have to use what it will take to get the blender or food processor to blend.  The key is to use as little liquid as possible!
8. If you don’t have a high powered blender like a Blend-Tec or VitaMix, use your food processor.
9. Honestly-If you love these bowls as much as I do-Break out your indoor ice cream maker and make enough for the whole family-This will ensure a thick, creamy ice-cream like consistency!  A smoothie bowl for dessert might just get those birdies to stop chirping for candy!
10. Frozen yogurt adds a great boost of creaminess and flavor! I just pop my daughter’s yogurt tubes in the freezer!

Liquid Ideas:

• Coconut Water
• Coconut, Almond, Cashew Milk
• Apple Juice
• Pineapple Juice
• Orange Juice
• Water

Protein Ideas:

• 2 TBSP. Nut Butter
• Chia Seeds
• Flax Seeds
• Collagen Powder
• Plant Based Protein Powder
• Hemp Seeds

Frozen Fruit Ideas:

• Pineapple
• Berries-Raspberries, Strawberries, Blueberries and/or Blackberries
• Bananas (frozen)
• Mangos
• Watermelon
• Avocado

Toppings Ideas:

• Honey
• Cinnamon
• Berries (frozen berries are so yummy!)
• Chia Seeds
• Granola (there are now many grain free options)
• Dried Coconut
• Sliced Kiwi
• Sliced Banana
• Sliced Nuts
• Organic Graham Cracker or cookie
• Organic Cereal
• Dark Chocolate Chips
• Cacao Nibs

Want to boost the nutrition in your smoothie? I wrote a post on 6 tasteless additives to add to your smoothie! If you like to add coconut oil for a boost of healthy fats, check out my quick and easy way to add just the right amount.

Another thought-avocado, honey and raw cacao powder makes a fantastic chocolate bowl! 

My G0-To Smoothie Bowl Recipe:

• A handful of spinach

• 1-2 cups of frozen pineapples and strawberries

• 1/3 cup Cashew or Almond Milk

• 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt

• 1 tbsp. of flax seed

Toppings:

• Frozen blueberries

• Honey

• Banana

• Chia seeds

• Cinnamon

Smoothie Bowls for Dinner!

I’ve been trying to eat smoothie bowls for dinner once or twice a week. I get so tired meal planning and let’s face it, kids like simple foods like fish sticks, mac & cheese and frozen veggies or even quesadillas and raw veggies. My husband even enjoys a frozen burrito or leftovers from time to time! What a relief to have a couple no brainer meals! That being said, being grain free and trying to shed a bit of weight, I need something light, especially in the evening when metabolism is slowing down. 

Making a run of the mill smoothie for dinner can back fire around 7 p.m. when you’re totally unsatisfied! The last thing you want to do is have an action packed smoothie then end up eating another meal late at night. Trust me, I’ve been there. Putting the extra ingredients and effort in can make all the difference. Eating a large lunch helps greatly too. In fact, a balanced lunch is an absolute must when skipping the dinner meal.

I hope I’ve inspired you to make a smoothie bowl!  It’s so yummy and helps mix up the usual!  My mouth is literally watering-I think I’ll go whip up another bowl-I experimented by literally eating my weight in smoothies this week, what’s one more?!

Oh and for a fun spin on a smoothie bowl-check out my homemade Frappuccino recipe!

xx, Jenni

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