Smoothie Bowls, Thumbs Up or Down?

Guess what’s trending on social media? You know it, you seen it, it’s the infamous smoothie bowls. They are Instagram ready because of the bright colors and healthy toppings. I feel like I’m trapped in the 2000’s and everybody is going ape shit over Fro Yo (frozen yogurt) Most cities have a Pinkberry, Menchie’s, and if your lucky to be in Los Angeles you will enjoy Go Greek Yogurt. This was supposed to be the next best treat compared to ice cream. They try to coin it as a healthy alternative, but when you get to the toppings anything healthy is out the window. There is mostly candy and sugar to make that Fro Yo a No Go.

Why hasn’t there been a shift with these frozen yogurt places to start serving smoothie bowls? Why don’t many smoothie businesses sell smoothie bowls? I don’t see smoothie bowls as a breakfast option on any restaurant menus either. According to social media there are over 2.7 million posts with hashtag #smoothiebowl. There are over a million tutorials on how to make smoothie bowls at home, and there are food bloggers and at home foodies who make dedicated pages to show off their colorful smoothie bowls.

Eat it or Drink it?

What is the difference?

Just like a smoothie a smoothie bowl can stay healthy or become a sugar bomb with high calories. Just like a smoothie your ingredients are the main characters of the story. The only real difference between a smoothie versus smoothie bowl is consistency. Do you want to eat it or drink it? Continue to use your favorite smoothie recipes, except use less liquid. Choose healthy toppings for your bowl to provide texture and flavor. The key to eating a smoothie bowl is portion size. You should only have 10 oz-16 oz of your smoothie bowl mixture and don’t overload your bowl with a bunch of toppings. As I noted in previous blogs, take 20-30 minutes to enjoy your smoothie or smoothie bowl so your body will signal your brain it is full. Do not drink or eat smoothies every day. Break up your routine; eat avocado toast, oatmeal, chia pudding, and smoothie bowl. The habit you are trying to make is to eat healthy every day, not eat the same thing every day. Too much of anything becomes bad for you.

I will share a couple of smoothie bowl recipes you can try at home below. The key to getting the perfect blend is the tools you use. If you are going to try this for the first time, you may want to invest in a quality blender so you can get the most out of your smoothie. A cheaper blender will have a hard time because the motor and blades won’t be powerful enough to create a smooth mix of your fruits and vegetables. To start off you should purchase a Ninja Foodi Smoothie Bowl Maker and Nutrient Extractor, at a reasonable cost $120.

Smoothie Bowl Recipes:

provided by The Art of the Smoothie Bowl - Nicole Gaffney

Jalapeno Honeydew Mint

1/4 cup white grape juice

2 tsp fresh lime or lemon juice

2 1/2 cups frozen honeydew

2-4 thin slices of jalapeno pepper

1/4 avocado

1/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves

Sweet Potato Pecan

1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

1/4 tsp orange zest

1 1/2 frozen bananas

1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potatoes

1 date, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp cinnamon

pinch of salt

Blend well, put in bowl, add favorite toppings.

Bon Appetit!