Blog / Beverages

25 Oct 2018

All about the Smoothie Bowl

If you’ve scrolled through Instagram or any foodie blogs in the last few months you’ll notice that smoothie bowls are a huge trend in the food photography and health world. There are hashtags, blogs and Instagram accounts dedicated to these beautiful healthy bowls, but you might still be wondering what this latest health food trend is and how you can join in the fun.

Smoothie bowls are a smoothie that you can eat with a spoon instead of drink with a straw, so they are thicker with an ice-cream like consistency. They can be decorated with a variety of toppings and many people like to think of smoothie bowls as a new, exciting and more nutrient dense take on a bowl of cereal.

The beauty of a smoothie bowl is that it contains a large selection of delicious and healthy fruits, vegetables, proteins, fats and superfoods in a convenient, beautiful and delicious package. They need to be thicker than a regular smoothie so they contain larger amounts of nutrient dense ingredients and less liquid which makes them more fillings and nourishing. By eating the smoothie with a spoon it slows us down and allows us to eat mindfully which encourages better digestion and absorption and discourages overeating. 

To make your own smoothie bowl you’ll want to start with a base of frozen fruit which will thicken the mixture. This can include berries, bananas, apples, pears, kiwi fruit, pineapple, peaches, mango, melons, acai and just about any fruit you enjoy. If you want to increase the nutrient density of the smoothie you can add some vegetables like kale, spinach, cucumber, celery, lettuce, zucchini, steamed pumpkin or steamed cauliflower. Protein powders and fats like avocado, nut butters, coconut oil, nuts and seeds help to thicken the smoothie and make it creamy while providing extra nutrition.

A variety of superfoods can also be added to increase the nutrient value of the smoothie and give it some more colour, like maca powder, lucuma powder, mesquite powder, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, spirulina, chlorella, goji berries, hemp seeds, acai powder and matcha powder. You’ll want to add some water, milk, almond milk, rice milk or coconut water to make it easy to blend but make sure not to add too much or you’ll lose the thickness. Finally add some ice and blend until it is well mixed, smooth, creamy and thick and then carefully pour it into your bowl.

You can decorate your smoothie bowl with your choice of toppings such as dried fruit, granola, coconut, nuts and seeds. If you’re an “Instagrammer” you may want to snap a picture of all your hard work before you sit down and slowly enjoy your delicious and nutritious home-made smoothie bowl!

Source
https://ohmyveggies.com/whats-the-deal-with-smoothie-bowls/