SMOOTHIE BOWLS!!
For When You Want to EAT Your Nutrition Instead of Drinking It!
Smoothies are one of the best ways to get heaps of fruit, greens, and superfoods into your diet…but all of that drinking your meals, instead of eating them, can get old fast. Smoothie bowls offer the perfect solution. They’re composed of a thick smoothie layered in a bowl with colourful, crunchy toppings. Smoothie bowls are eaten with a spoon instead of a straw and they’re more of a celebration than a chore to eat. They’re also great for kids since they can top their own smoothie bowls according to what they like.
You can turn any smoothie recipe into a smoothie bowl recipe by reducing the quantity of liquid. You will need a high powered blender capable of handling thick, frozen fruit-based concoctions.
This HAPPY SMOOTHIE BOWL is a lovely lemon-flavoured bowl with bright fresh colour and flavour and has a spicy punch of ginger and coriander.
This recipe includes three immune system health stars – lemon, ginger, and coriander. These foods help keep your body healthy during cold and flu season (as well as now with COVID19):
Lemon. Fresh lemon is a great source of Vitamin C, which boosts white blood cell production and consequently helps your body fight off bugs.
Ginger helps your lymphatic system cleanse your body of waste and eliminate foreign invaders. It also reduces inflammation and soothes upset stomachs!
Coriander. This spicy herb and an excellent source of antioxidants, iron, and Vitamin C, which work together to strengthen your body’s ability to cleanse your blood and keep your immune system functioning optimally.
One of the best things about smoothie bowls is that you can seriously increase the nutrition of your bowl by loading it with superfood toppings and is perfect for breakfast or a snack. You can also add Goji berries, pumpkin seeds, and unsweetened shredded coconut which are packed full of vitamins and minerals as well as a yummy crunch.
Superfood Mix-Ins + Toppings = A Superior Smoothie Bowl
Try pumpkin seeds are a great source of zinc, a mineral that’s vital to immune health.
Granola is always delicious, of course, but in a smoothie bowl, it tends to soak up the smoothie and become even tastier! Make your smoothie bowl your own by choosing your favourite toppings and arranging them artfully. Check out the list below for suggestions and get creative – the bulk bins at your local health food or organic store are a great place to find healthy toppings, and you can buy just a little of this and that, which is ideal for smoothie bowls.
HAPPY SMOOTHIE BOWL (Makes 1 meal-sized serving or 2 snack-sized servings)
1 cup organic canned lite coconut milk
Juice and zest of one lemon
Quarter-sized knob of ginger
A handful of fresh coriander leaves
1 frozen banana
1 cup frozen mango chunks
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
Toppings of choice: unsweetened shredded coconut, pumpkin seeds, granola, fresh fruit, chia seeds, and goji berries are some of my favourites.
Directions:
In a high-speed blender, combine coconut milk, juice and zest of lemon, ginger, and coriander. Blend on high for one minute, or until greens are completely liquefied.
Add banana and mango and blend again until the mixture becomes thick and creamy, like sorbet. You may need to stop the blender and scrape down the sides during this step.
Add your protein powder or meal replacement last and blend until just combined – blending whey protein too long causes it to become ‘fluffy’, so blend only until powder disappears.
Scoop smoothie into a wide, shallow bowl (or two bowls if sharing!). Level surface with a spatula and decorate smoothie bowl with toppings of choice. Enjoy immediately.
Recipe Notes:
If you want to ‘drink’ your smoothie bowl, add ½ to 1 cup more liquid and skip the toppings.
If you don’t have coriander on hand, try parsley or a handful of leafy greens like spinach, Swiss chard, or beetroot greens.
Almond milk or cashew milk can be used instead of coconut milk. Or try coconut water for a lighter, more refreshing flavour.