I have to admit, until quite recently I was a little sceptical of smoothie bowls. I thought they were kind of impractical and just a way that Instagrammers could make their smoothies look better for photos. But having made a few now I've realised they're pretty awesome because:
Using a spoon to eat your smoothie takes much longer than simply drinking it, which really helps control your eating speed
You can make smoothie bowls much thicker - this adds variety and it kind of feels like you're having ice cream for breakfast which is obviously a massive morning win
You can appreciate the toppings - for example I love kiwi fruit but if it were blended up with the smoothie the flavour would be kind of lost
Yes, they look prettier too, but this is actually important because good presentation of food is a major component to the enjoyment of a meal
* A note on protein - it’s absolutely not necessary to use protein supplements just because you’re on a vegan diet. They can however be useful and convenient, especially if you’re regularly weight training, where a higher protein intake can help with building muscle strength and mass - the same reason you’ll often see meat eaters drinking a whey protein shake after the gym! Vivo Life is my favourite vegan protein brand - all their products are vegan, use raw and fermented proteins for improved absorption, are independently tested for heavy metals, and are smooth and taste great! You can use ‘TJ10’ for a 10% discount on your first order with them!
I still drink my smoothies most mornings because time is often short, but when I get the chance I'll definitely be making smoothie bowls more often now. This one was delicious - here's how I made it:
Blueberry Protein Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients (serves 1):
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1-2 large handfuls fresh spinach
1/2 fresh beetroot
About 1 cup water
Toppings:
1 fresh kiwi fruit
1 Tbsp toasted almond flakes
2 Tbsp fresh blueberries
1 tsp chia seeds
Method:
Chuck all ingredients in a blender and whizz up until smooth... that's it! You can add a little more water if you want a more liquid consistency, or a few ice cubes to make it thicker. Cut up the kiwi fruit and arrange on top along with the other toppings. It's that simple.
These are great for post-workout refuelling. The natural sugars in the fruits and the protein from the Vega powder, nuts, and seeds is the perfect combination for muscle recovery and growth.
Nutrition:
Protein: 17.8g (Women: 35.6% / Men: 32.4%)
Iron: 4.2mg (Women: 28.4% / Men: 48.3%)
Calories: 359 (Women: 18.0% / Men: 14.4%)
Sugars: 32.9g (Women: 36.6% / Men: 27.4%)
Total Fats: 8.4g (Women: 12.0% / Men: 8.8%)
Saturated Fats: 0.8g (Women: 4.0% / Men: 2.7%)
Salt: 0.3g (Women: 5.0% / Men: 5.0%)
Fibre: 13.8g (Women: 46.0% / Men: 46.0%)
See the Nutrition Info page for more details on % of Dietary Reference Values for men and women.