When you’re on the go and need a nutritious snack. Sipping on a smoothie or tucking into a smoothie bowl can be a great option. The question is, how do you make it tasty yet healthy?
What’s the Difference Between a Smoothie and a Smoothie Bowl?
All in all, they are quite similar. However, a smoothie bowl has a little more fibre in it, which makes the smoothie firmer. Hence why you eat it from a bowl, with a spoon rather than drink it from a glass.
Why Should You Give a Smoothie Bowl a Try?
If you need something a little more substantial to fill you up, a smoothie bowl can be a great option. Not to mention you can top it with a lot more goodies such as fresh nuts, seeds, fruit and coconut.
How to Make One
If you want to make a smoothie bowl, simply reduce the amount of liquid from your standard smoothie recipe and add some extra oat bran.
Building a Smoothie
Inspired by the Louise Parker Method: Lean for Life
There’s a little trick to making a proper, healthy and tasty smoothie. Luckily, it’s simple advice to follow and easy to do in a short amount of time.
1. Get your protein
Protein makes up the building blocks for almost your entire body. Some of the most essential functions it has included, expanding energy so that you can digest food as well as maintain healthy muscles.
What to use: Greek yogurt | protein powder (whey, pea, vegan) | tofu | soy yogurt
2. Add some fibre
Soluble fibre dissolves in the water in your digestive system and boosts your bowel health. It can also help to reduce the amount of cholesterol in your blood.
What to use: Oat bran (it has 50% more fibre than regular oats)
3. Decide if you want to use an extra healthy fat
Healthy fats are made up of unsaturated fats and omega fatty acids. They are essential to help reduce your risk of type II diabetes, body inflammation, insulin resistance and many more ailments.
What to use: seeds | nuts | oil blends | natural nut butters
4. Pick a Lower-GI Carb
High GI (glycemic index) foods, are quickly broken down and absorbed by the body and result in your blood sugar levels spiking. Whereas Low GI foods are broken down and absorbed more slowly into your bloodstream and result in a steady rise in blood sugar and insulin levels.
This means that they can fuel you steadily throughout the day and still allow you to burn through your fat storage.
What to use: frozen fruits | fresh fruits
5. Choose if you want it in a bowl
At this point, you can choose if you want to make a smoothie bowl by simply adding more fibre and reducing the amount of liquid.
6. Get decorating
It’s time for toppings. This is one of the most creative, and fun parts of compiling your smoothie, not to mention the fact that it gives your snack a bit of extra texture and flavour.
Some nice topping options include:
- Fruit (e.g. dried or fresh – slices of apple, pears, kiwi, passionfruit, peaches or berries)
- Fruit rind (e.g. lemon, lime or orange)
- Nuts and seeds (e.g. cashew nuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, pomegranate seeds or pecans)