Protein Smoothie Bowls

Do you like Smoothies? Have you ever tried a Smoothie BOWL?

You might even like it MORE than the drink version! Some people are satisfied from smoothies or protein drinks, but love this option.

I love smoothie bowls … maybe even more than regular smoothies! They seem much more filling, satisfying, and they might even be easier to make.

How so? Because they are thicker and provide more volume than a drink. They also require you to use a spoon, so it takes longer to eat/enjoy.

Fun Fact: It takes the body about 15-20 minutes to register fullness. This is why it is important to SLOW down when having a meal! Also, digestive enzymes are secreted (which are necessary to digest food but also signal fullness) when we chew. This is sometimes why you might not be full or satisfied after liquid meals or drinks in general

Also a fun variation of a Smoothie Drink vs. Bowl: You can vary the toppings and ingredients! You can add some crunch and change up the texture, which is always a good thing in my book.

After you’ve blended it up, add your favorite toppings. Some of mine include raw nuts or seeds, hemp hearts, paleo granola, fruit like apples, pears or berries, unsweetened coconut flakes or cacao nibs!

Below is one of my Go-To Recipes!

Green Smoothie Bowl

(Makes 1 serving)

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups (60 g) fresh organic spinach
• 1/2 (frozen) banana, berries, pumpkin or applesauce
• ½ cup (125 ml) unsweetened non-dairy milk ( I use almond or cashew)
• 1/4 cup (approx 35g) avocado
• 1 tbsp flax seed, hemp hearts, or chia seeds
• About 1/2 cup Ice (optional but recommended)
• 1 serving protein powder: bone broth or collagen, plant based or grass fed whey
• Dash of cinnamon and ginger
• Optional: nonfat unsweetened plain coconut or Greek yogurt
• Toppings of your choice

DIRECTIONS:

Place all the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend till smooth. If you want a thicker consistency, add more ice and decrease the amount of liquid.
Pour into bowl and add your favorite toppings. IDEAS: Raw nuts or seeds, hemp hearts, paleo granola, fruit like apples, pears or berries, unsweetened coconut flakes, cacao nibs, nut butter.

TIP: Make sure to have a balance of protein to healthy fat and carb ratio. Some smoothies/smoothie bowls can use lots of “healthy” ingredients, but still have a ton of calories, sugar and carbs. My tip is to always have a serving of protein (protein powder is the easiest) and then have healthy portions of carbs and fats.

Serving of healthy fat: 1 Tbsp (size of your thumb)

Serving of healthy carbs: 1/2 to 1 cup total