This week's post is written by Erica Carneglia, who is interning with Lunchbox Nutritionist this summer. Erica is a senior dietetics major at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She is a member of the Student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and is a group fitness instructor at the campus recreation center. I'm sure you will enjoy reading about her delicious ideas for a summer treat!
Summer is the perfect time to switch up your routine and try something new, and smoothie bowls are a great way to do just that! If you’re on Pinterest or any other form of social media, I’m sure you’ve seen them before; they seem to be popping up almost everywhere with their vibrant, rich colors and nutrient-packed ingredient lists. So what are they really all about?
Summer is the perfect time to switch up your routine and try something new, and smoothie bowls are a great way to do just that! If you’re on Pinterest or any other form of social media, I’m sure you’ve seen them before; they seem to be popping up almost everywhere with their vibrant, rich colors and nutrient-packed ingredient lists. So what are they really all about?
Not just a ‘smoothie in a bowl’: Because they are meant to be consumed with a spoon instead of out of a straw, you have free range to add ingredients that are coarser or thicker in texture, such as nuts, seeds, or even an avocado. Not only this, but they have toppings galore! You can spruce them up with anything and everything you can think of, don’t limit yourself to the ingredients you put inside the bowl, toppings can be completely original.
Why are they so ‘trendy’? As you can probably assume, popularity spurred from the bowls’ photogenic qualities, but they’re remaining popular because of their versatility and nutritious make-up. There are so many options, you can add fruits or vegetables, have it for breakfast or lunch, and they can even be dessert oriented by using some peanut butter or unsweetened cocoa powder.
Who are these for? While the overwhelming majority of smoothie bowl enthusiasts are adults, they can most certainly be made kid friendly. Minor adjustments to any recipe can be made, such as smaller portions, or the addition of your child’s favorite ingredients. The dessert bowls also seem to catch kids’ eyes!
Finally, here’s a sample recipe for you to try out. It’s fruity and delicious, packed with quite a nutritious punch. This recipe serves two. All you have to do is combine the smoothie ingredients in a blender, and pulse until smooth. The toppings are just suggestions, pick and choose your favorites and let your creative side take over as you decorate. Don’t forget to post your smoothie bowl on twitter and tag me in it, I would love to see what you all come up with!
Smoothie Ingredients:
1 ½ frozen bananas
1 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
½ cup strawberries
½ cup blueberries
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp acai powder (optional)
¼ cup almond milk
Possible Toppers:
Kiwi slices
Banana slices
Pineapple slices
Strawberries
Blueberries
Goji berries
Coconut shavings
Pomegranate arils
Hemp seeds
Chia seeds
© 2015 Erica Carneglia
Why are they so ‘trendy’? As you can probably assume, popularity spurred from the bowls’ photogenic qualities, but they’re remaining popular because of their versatility and nutritious make-up. There are so many options, you can add fruits or vegetables, have it for breakfast or lunch, and they can even be dessert oriented by using some peanut butter or unsweetened cocoa powder.
Who are these for? While the overwhelming majority of smoothie bowl enthusiasts are adults, they can most certainly be made kid friendly. Minor adjustments to any recipe can be made, such as smaller portions, or the addition of your child’s favorite ingredients. The dessert bowls also seem to catch kids’ eyes!
Finally, here’s a sample recipe for you to try out. It’s fruity and delicious, packed with quite a nutritious punch. This recipe serves two. All you have to do is combine the smoothie ingredients in a blender, and pulse until smooth. The toppings are just suggestions, pick and choose your favorites and let your creative side take over as you decorate. Don’t forget to post your smoothie bowl on twitter and tag me in it, I would love to see what you all come up with!
Smoothie Ingredients:
1 ½ frozen bananas
1 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
½ cup strawberries
½ cup blueberries
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp acai powder (optional)
¼ cup almond milk
Possible Toppers:
Kiwi slices
Banana slices
Pineapple slices
Strawberries
Blueberries
Goji berries
Coconut shavings
Pomegranate arils
Hemp seeds
Chia seeds
© 2015 Erica Carneglia
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