Smoothies are no longer confined to mason jars and plastic to-go cups—they are now put in bowls and topped with all sorts of tasty breakfast goodies! A delicious play off the popular Brazilian acai bowl, the smoothie bowl is a creative, healthy way to fill you up in the morning.
I love DIY food. Well, I have a love-hate relationship with it. Me in a froyo shop is a dangerous thing. I turn into a kid in a candy store, I want to try everything—more, more, more! Flavor pairings and profiles become nonexistent and regret is almost always instant. My latest froyo concoction featured a coffee and tropical fruit combo piled high with cookie dough, sour gummy worms, and lychee!? What is wrong with me? But don’t run away, just yet! I promise I practiced restraint with this smoothie bowl. But hey, I’m not gonna get mad if you toss some cookie dough chunks in there—I won’t tell.
I came across this mermaid smoothie bowl by The Glowing Fridge on Pinterest and was instantly inspired. I’m a sucker for pretty food styling and anything aqua (it’s my birthstone). She used spirulina, which I hadn’t tried. It’s considered a superfood derived from algae and is naturally packed with protein, antioxidants, and many other beneficial nutrients. In fact, It’s one of the most nutrient dense foods in the world. However, it tastes how you think algae would—like pond scum—so a smoothie is the perfect place to hide the flavor and still get all its great benefits.
Spirulina isn’t the only superfood that makes its debut, here. I also used maca powder for the first time! It’s a root grown in Peru and belongs to the radish family. It’s packed with vitamins (such as B, C, and E) and has been used to increase energy, balance mood, and even boost libido—heyyyyy. The powder has a slightly nutty flavor, which works well in smoothies and salad dressing, but be careful not to cook or bake with it, as it can lose its nutritional value when heated. I bought both the spirulina and maca powder on Amazon—just make sure to look for organic brands.
Aside from being gorgeous and packed with health benefits, this smoothie bowl is also delicious! I love the tropical flavors of the mango, pineapple, and banana combined with the tangy kiwi. Side note: Trader Joe’s has a frozen mango, pineapple, banana, and strawberry mix you can use for this—just pick out the strawberries, or don’t. The avocado gives it a rich, smooth texture and the spinach adds to the green color. The bright, bold flavors of the fruit mask the earthiness of the spinach and spirulina, so it’s great for kids and picky eaters!
And the best thing about smoothies, of course, is how versatile they are. So if you don’t have spirulina or maca powder, or simply just don’t want to use them—ditch ’em. Put whatever fruits and healthful goodies you want in.
Same story for the toppings. I like to play with textures, so I’ll add granola for crunch and maybe some chia or flax seeds. Fresh or frozen fruit. Coconut flakes, cacao nibs, gogi berries—go nuts! Ooh, nuts are good, too. I love walnuts.
Enjoy.
GREEN SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIE BOWL 
INGREDIENTS
For the smoothie
- Approx 2 cups frozen banana, pineapple, mango mix (Trader Joe’s)
- 1 banana
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 kiwi
- 1 handful spinach
- 1 tsp spirulina
- 1 tbsp maca powder
- water (coconut water, almond milk, etc.) to thin smoothie
For the toppings
- granola
- coconut flakes
- blackberries
- raspberries
INSTRUCTIONS
Place all smoothie ingredients into blender and blend on high. If too thick or blender gets stuck, add a little water (or whichever liquid you choose) at a time until the consistency is smooth and creamy. Pour in bowls and decorate with toppings.
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