Because of the Pandemic, we’re spending more time at home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make your favourite restaurant-quality, insta-ready smoothie bowl at home! Plus we’ll show you how to make them work harder for you, by being more nutritious and more filling!
Smoothie Bowls 101
Unlike drinking smoothies, smoothie bowls have a thicker texture that can support many toppings. They are often made from a blend of frozen fruits to get a soft sorbet-like texture, but if you’re watching your sugar consumption or would like to get an even wider variety of nutrients, why not throw in some of your favourite frozen veggies?
Another way to add thickness to your smoothie bowl base is to add ingredients that absorb a lot of liquid, like flaxseed powder or chia seeds! Plus, this means a dose of healthy plant-based fats and protein.
Add a scoop of protein powder to your smoothies because this helps with muscle repair and recovery after exercise and keeps you feeling fuller for longer.
All About That Base
Let’s talk about your smoothie-bowl base! The best fruits for freezing are: bananas, berries, mango, pineapple, dragonfruit, melon and avocado. Yes, avocado. This is especially useful when your fruit is starting to get very ripe and you know you won’t have time to consume it fresh. Peel, slice and pop in freezer bags and you’ve got an array of frozen fruit at your fingertips!
To add veggies to your smoothie bowl base, steam cauliflower, courgettes, sweet potato or butternut and baby spinach and freeze them. You can even add frozen peas to your smoothie bowls! Don’t know what to do with those thick broccoli stalks? Don’t discard them! Slice, steam and freeze them too! Adding these to your smoothies means you’re adding extra nutrients!
Superfood Additions!
Make your smoothie bowls into SUPER smoothie bowls, by adding ingredients like: Collagen – for skin elasticity, Baobab powder – for a vitamin C boost, Moringa – for added iron, Spirulina – for protein and antioxidants, Maca – for a libido boost, Cacao – for antioxidants and a mood boost, Matcha – for antioxidants and energy, Hemp seeds – for fatty acids and vitamin E, and Açai – for a brain boost and bright colour.
You can find most of these ingredients in the health sections of supermarkets or simply or them online on sites like UntanglHealth, Faithful-to-Nature or WellnessWarehouse.com that deliver countrywide.
The Best Smoothie Bowl Toppings
- Toasted coconut flakes or desiccated coconut
- Toasted nuts and seeds
- Homemade granola
- Drizzle of nut butter or tahini
- Cacao nibs
- Goji berries
- Sliced fruit (like banana stars)
- Berries
- Granadilla pulp
- Sliced dates
- Dried fruit
Super Easy Smoothie Bowl Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 frozen banana
- ½ cup frozen berries
- ½ cup frozen veg (see above)
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- 2 tbsp protein powder
Method:
- Place all ingredients into a blender. Add 1 cup of water. Blitz until smooth.
- Pour into a bowl immediately and add toppings of your choice (see above).
For more delicious recipes, check out our resource hub and try this delicious post-workout vegan blueberry smoothie recipe for another great brekky option!