When I first saw people posting about Smoothie Bowls, I had no idea what they were.  I thought to myself “What’s the difference between a Smoothie Bowl and just a regular Smoothie? The bowl? Is it just putting a smoothie in a bowl to be trendy?” Then I saw my friend Elisa posting about Smoothie Bowls in conjunction with her recent veganism and I shot her a message to try and understand. It turns out that I wasn’t the only one with questions about this new hip thing called a Smoothie Bowl, and soon after posting a few on Instagram I received various message from friends and followers asking the same thing-what on earth is a Smoothie Bowl?

What are Smoothie Bowls?

Well, the simple answer is that it is indeed a smoothie in a bowl.  The better answer is that it’s an extra thick smoothie, that you top with various delicious and health-centered things and then eat it with a spoon.

Some people even make smoothie bowls look like an art form with all their pretty toppings and arrangements.

Why Smoothie Bowls instead of a regular Smoothie?

Well, when you have a Smoothie, they’re typically pretty smooth (duh) so you can drink them on the go or from a straw, but a Smoothie Bowl is something kind of different.  I like to think of Smoothie Bowls as a healthy replacement for ice cream.  You make them thick so they’re more satisfying as an after-dinner or midday treat, and then you top them with lots of delicious crunchy things that help keep you satisfied longer. So they’re healthy, but they’re also helping to keep your sweet tooth or need for a dessert in check.

How to Make a Smoothie Bowl

This one’s easy.  Make an extra thick smoothie in a blender or food processor using fresh or frozen fruit, pour it in a bowl, and then top it with whatever delicious goodness you want.  Then enjoy! Here are a couple of recipes I’ve very much enjoyed:

Mango Banana Cherry Chunk Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie Ingredients:

• Frozen Mangoes
• Frozen Cherries
• Fresh Banana
• Toasted Coconut Almond Milk

Toppings:

• Coconut Sugar
• Granola (any flavor-I used a Blueberry one)
• Flax Seeds
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Hemp Seeds
• Chia Seeds
• Slivered Almonds

Instructions:

Blend your smoothie ingredients together so it’s nice and thick (not too runny, you want to eat it with a spoon) then sprinkle with all of your toppings. I loved the coconut sugar on this one to add a little bit of extra sweetness to it.

Very Berry Banana Crunch Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie Ingredients:

• Frozen Blueberries
• Frozen Raspberries
• Frozen Blackberries
• Fresh Banana
• Almond Milk

Toppings:

• Granola
• Hemp Seeds
• Chia Seeds
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Flax Seeds
• Slivered Almonds
• Pistachios

Instructions:

Blend your smoothie ingredients together so it’s nice and thick (not too runny, you want to eat it with a spoon) then sprinkle with all of your toppings.

You really can add whatever you want as a topping. Add any nuts or seeds you like, add your favorite healthy cereal (or sugary one, if that’s what you’re feeling!), etc.  Have fun with it! You can even make your smoothie bowls super pretty too-which will impress any friends you invite over for one.  I mean look at these:

Have you tried a Smoothie Bowl?