Build Colorful Fruit-And-Veggie-Filled Smoothie Bowls

As it’s starting to warm up outside, it’s time to bid farewell to warm oats for breakfast and say hello to refreshing smoothie bowls. Smoothie bowls pack all the nutrition of a traditional smoothie, and also offer the endless possibilities of toppings.

“I like smoothies,” you might say, “Why do I need to spoon my smoothie from a bowl and add toppings?”

• Grabbing a portable smoothie for the morning commute is a great solution for a hectic morning, but even better—allowing yourself 10 minutes to savor your breakfast. On mornings when you can swing it, use a spoon, add some toppings to chew, be civilized. Taking an extra moment can help us respect our hunger, feel our fullness, and enjoy that smoothie, in a more relaxed way.
• Adding crunchy or chewy toppings boosts the “JIF” (jaw involvement factor). Not only does this introduce more interest to our palate, but the act of chewing provides more satiety than slurping through a straw or gulping it down.
• More toppings provide more variations that can help keep the breakfast doldrums away. Keep if fresh!
• Smoothie bowls are much more photogenic than the regular old smoothie. Check out #bowlgoals for some motivating food art.

Now that you’re convinced, time to plan your bowl. It’s easy!

Choose your fruits and veggies. Aim for at least one cup of each. Use frozen fruits or veggies for the coldest, creamiest texture. Skip the ice and sugar-sweetened juice.

Choose your protein. Nuts, nut butter, plain Greek yogurt, silken tofu, milk, or kefir are all good choices.

Add a little fat. Avocado, hemp seeds, chia seeds, or ground flax are all good options.

Blend the smoothie and put it in a bowl.

Top it. The simplest way to top your bowl is to set aside some of the ingredients that you put in the blender and arrange them on top. For example, if you’re making a chocolate banana nut smoothie, top your smoothie with a little cooca powder, banana slices, and crushed nuts. But you can use the toppings as an opportunity to add more ingredients and boost nutrition as well. Consider a mix of textures and flavors for the ultimate smoothie bowl experience.

For more crunch: Add crushed nuts, chia seeds, low-sugar granola, or apple slices.

For more creaminess: Add nut butter, tahini, avocado, or Greek yogurt.

For more volume: Add fruit slices or jicama spears

For more tart: Add berries, kiwi slices, passion fruit

For more texture: Add goji berries, dried fruit, oats, shredded coconut, or dark chocolate shavings.

Show us your #bowlgoals!