Move over mason jars, there’s a new girl in town. She’s fun and pretty and everyone loves her.

Just kidding. But kinda not. Have you tried a smoothie bowl yet?

Turning your everyday smoothie into a healthy smoothie bowl is a great way to shake up your smoothie routine. Better yet, show off your healthy recipe skills and make one for a friend or significant other. They’ll be so impressed.

Smoothie bowls are not only pretty, they’re fun to eat. It looks all fancy but it’s really just a smoothie that you eat like cereal. Keep your smoothie bowl healthy by being mindful of how much sugar is in the bowl and steering clear of artificial ingredients. Think whole fruits and veggies, raw nuts and seeds, and nut butters like almond butter.

A smoothie bowl is really just a thick smoothie you eat with a spoon. Blend it a little thicker than you would to drink it (frozen fruit, a few ice cubes and the liquid on the low side), pour it into a small bowl, then top it with about 2-3 tablespoons of fruit and 1-2 tablespoons of something crunchy like nuts, seeds or granola. Eat it right away, before the toppings start to sink.

How To Make A Healthy Smoothie Bowl

The Base

Start with your smoothie of choice. The toppings make it special so I keep my smoothie bowl base pretty simple.

Note to self: Make it on the thick side so all of the toppings don’t sink to the bottom. It’s happened to me a few times and is really a bummer.

Example for a white base:

• 10-12 ounces of purified water (adjust to keep your base thick)
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1 serving of high-quality vanilla protein powder
• 1 serving of high-quality collagen protein powder (optional)
• 1 serving of a probiotic (optional)
• 4 ice cubes, or just use very cold water
• Add a bit of vanilla extract, cinnamon, or other spices to your smoothie for more flavor if desired.

For a green base:

• add 2 tablespoons of liquid chlorophyll to the white base
• optional: also add 1 handful of your favorite fresh greens

For a red or purple base:

• substitute or add strawberries, raspberries or a small peeled beet for the banana in the white base (red), or blueberries or an acai smoothie pack (purple); do not add the green ingredients to the red or purple base as it will turn brown (unless you’re into it!)

The Toppings

Add about 2-3 tablespoons of fruit: Fresh or frozen fruit both work great. Berries, sliced kiwi, mango, apples…. the sky’s the limit! Avocado is actually a fruit and works beautifully in sweet dishes and would make a great addition. Dried superfood berries like goji berries or mulberries are full of nutrition and also make a beautiful statement on a smoothie bowl.

Add 1-2 tablespoons of something crunchy: Choose a few superfoods to add some texture and nutrition to your bowl. Raw nuts, raw seeds, flaked coconut or even healthy homemade granola all make delicious additions. I like to chop up whole raw nuts for a smaller texture. Slivered almonds also work great. Chia seeds, ground flax seeds, hemp seeds (aka hemp hearts), raw pumpkin seeds or raw sunflower seeds work nicely with a smoothie bowl.

Consider healthy extras: nut butter like almond butter, cacao nibs, or fresh herbs like mint all make fun additions, too.

If you’re going for the wow factor, choose a few different colors that contrast with your smoothie. In the smoothie below, I have a red base so I chose dark purple (blackberries), green (kiwi), yellow (mango), and some light-colored seeds (hemp & white chia).

 

Beet & Berry Rainbow Smoothie Bowl Recipe

Serves 1

The base:

• 10 ounces of cold purified water (that’s about 1.5 cups)
• 1/3 cup frozen raspberries
• 1 small red beet, peeled (about a 1 inch cube of raw beet)
• 1 serving of your favorite vanilla protein powder
• 1 serving of your favorite collagen
• 2 ice cubes

Toppings:

• About 2 tablespoons chopped mango
• 3 blackberries, cut in half
• 1/2 kiwi, cut into half moons
• 1 teaspoon hemp seeds
• 1 teaspoon white chia seeds

Method: Blend the base on high in a high-speed blender until smooth. Be mindful to keep it thick. Pour into a small bowl. Arrange the fruit and seeds on top. Best served immediately. Enjoy!

P.S. The beet adds a ton of nutrition and color to this smoothie, but if you don’t care for beets just leave it out. I used to not like beets, but they’ve really grown on me. Give them a try! They’re really good for you, and roasted beets are an easy place to start.

Smoothie Bowl FAQs

How do I make my smoothie bowl thicker?

Use frozen fruit, add a few ice cubes and start with less water than you think you need. You can always add a splash more to get the blender moving. A thick base is what keeps your toppings on top instead of sinking to the bottom. Any of my favorite smoothie recipes can become a smoothie bowl this way.

Can I make a smoothie bowl without banana?

The Beet & Berry bowl above doesn’t use any banana at all. Frozen raspberries and a little raw beet give it body and that gorgeous color. Frozen strawberries, blueberries or an acai smoothie pack work, too.

Are smoothie bowls healthy?

They can be, and it all comes down to what goes in them. Keep the base simple, go easy on sweeteners and juice, and choose whole fruits, raw nuts and seeds for toppings. Some café smoothie bowls are closer to dessert, which is one more reason to make your own at home.

What are the best smoothie bowl toppings?

Fresh fruit (berries, kiwi, mango), something crunchy (chopped raw nuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds or granola) and a fun extra like a drizzle of almond butter or a few cacao nibs. For more add-in ideas, check out my 18 smoothie boosts.

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