At No-FUSS Healthy Living, I aim to help you cultivate a lifestyle of healthy living. You can do that without making it complicated. Let’s start by simplifying breakfast without compromising nutrition. Reform your breakfast menu by adding a nutrient-dense smoothie bowl to your morning meal plan.
Typically, cereal serves as the “get-out-the-door” mad rush morning meal. The boxes of cereal that line our pantry shelves fuel the body with energy-plummeting sugar and carbohydrates. If you are into the habit of “pouring” your breakfast into a bowl, then switch the contents of WHAT goes into the bowl.
After making a few smoothie bowls, you will eventually concoct your variation of the recipe. As long as you use ingredients that fuel and nourish your body, the sky is the limit with what you can use.
I started making smoothie bowls out of desperation. A few months ago, I settled into breakfast boredom. Rather than conquer the morning meal monotony, I got lazy.
For those hectic early mornings, I grabbed an RX or Larabar on my way out the door with coffee in hand.
I violated several real food practices that I know to be beneficial for my health and well-being. On-the-fly eating prevents us from savoring and appreciating our food. Hurried eating disconnects us from food, and it quickly becomes a matter of manufactured fuel.
Did I even stop to say grace while unwrapping my protein bar?
Fortunately, I mended my mundane morning meal ways and devised a few new recipes to add spark to breakfast. Serving smoothie bowls, at first, took a little getting used to. Instinctively, my kids wanted to reach for a straw and drink the smoothie bowl.
That’s not how it works guys.
We played around with the recipe until we mastered the one unveiled here.
Let’s talk about the ingredients that make up the basic smoothie bowl recipe.
The frozen fruit is the foundation of the recipe. Most of the time, I use unsweetened frozen cherries. You can switch this around and use whatever unsweetened frozen fruit you choose.
The recipe calls for a frozen banana, which is what I also use in my Chocolate Banana Smoothie. The frozen banana adds texture and sweetness.
If you have a few bananas that are on their way to overripening, slice them and freeze them on a cookie sheet. Once frozen, place the slices in a freezer bag or container. Keep frozen that way whenever you need to make a smoothie bowl, the bananas are ready to do their part.
To add protein, I soak 1⁄4 cup of raw almonds overnight. If almonds are not to your taste, substitute the almonds with raw cashews. To add variety, I like to alternate between the two. I have a daughter who is allergic to cashews, so almonds are often my go-to for this recipe.
To Dairy or Not to Dairy
We are a dairy-free household. After several rounds of the Whole30, several of us discovered an intolerance to dairy products.
However, in this smoothie bowl recipe, I add creme fraiche ( a European-style of cultured sour cream) or coconut cream, whichever I have on hand.
It is easier to keep a few cans of coconut milk in the pantry than making sure creme-fraiche is always in the refrigerator.
After making the recipes numerous times, I concluded that the Cream Fraiche adds a sweeter, creamier flavor to the smoothie bowl.
So if I am dairy-free, how can I tolerate creme fraiche?
Glad that you asked.
Creme Fraiche is high in enzymes and beneficial bacteria. Creme fraiche undergoes the Lacto-fermentation process that breaks down the lactose and casein which allows for easier digestion of the dairy product.
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1/2 cup raw almonds
- 1 1/2 cup of frozen dark, unsweetened cherries
- 1/2 cup of creme fraiche or coconut cream
- 1 cup frozen banana slices
- 2 tsp of chia seeds
- 1 tsp of pure vanilla
- 1/4 tsp of pure almond extract
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add almonds and cover them with water. Soak overnight in the refrigerator.
- The next morning, drain the water.
- In a Vitamix or high speed blender, add the cherries, banana, creme fraiche or coconut cream, almonds, chia seeds, vanilla, and almond extra.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into bowls.
- Add toppings
To Top the Smoothie Bowls Off
Add as many real food toppings as your palate can take! My favorite Smoothie Bowl toppings:
- Goji berries
- raw walnuts, pecans, pistachios
- fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)
- pomegranate seeds
- cacao nibs
- unsweetened shredded coconut
Make Your Body Happy With Smoothie Bowl
Hectic morning schedules necessitate quick and easy menu options for the first meal of the day. Avoid the trap of equating “swift and no-frills” breakfast with serving sugar-laden cold cereal or pop tarts.
Use the Smoothie Breakfast Bowl to rehabilitate your morning meal.