Spring Into Smoothie Bowls
Smoothies made with real milk make the perfect meal or snack on the go, but the trend of blending a slightly thicker smoothie and serving it in a bowl with an assortment of toppings is not going away anytime soon. We love this delicious new way to enjoy the nutrition of dairy! Read along for our top tips for making yummy smoothie bowls recipes and see how college students love smoothie bowls with a recent project on a Southeast campus.
Build Your Base
Any smoothie recipe will do the trick, but you want to make sure the mixture is thick enough to eat with a spoon. Add a dollop more of Greek yogurt, frozen fruit, or ice to make a scoopable mixture. For an extra layer of chilly goodness, throw your bowl into the freezer for a few minutes so that your smoothie doesn’t immediately start to melt.
Choose Your Toppings
Now is your time to get creative! Simply top your smoothie bowl with some of the star flavors of your smoothie (i.e. sliced strawberries or bananas atop your strawberry banana smoothie) or throw in some new ingredients to the mix! Top a tropical smoothie base like this Mango-Pineapple smoothie with shredded coconut, dried banana chips, or fresh kiwi slices for a quick transport to the coast! Or top this Peanut Butter Cup Protein Smoothie with granola, a drizzle of peanut butter, or chocolate chips for a sweet treat. Seeds like flax, chia, and pumpkin make for a crunchy topping and are good sources of fiber.
Serve with a Smile
NCSU students making their own smoothie bowls
Making smoothies and smoothie bowls are a great way to get kids in the kitchen. Having children help in the kitchen in any way helps to improve their relationship with food, with their confidence, and can even help your “picky” eaters learn to try and even like some foods they usually stray from. Use child-safe knives and have them cut soft fruits like bananas and strawberries and use fun toppings like sprinkles to make them even more kid-friendly. Engage in playfulness and use language like “Oh, this green smoothie looks like a monster!” or “Wow, these colors remind me of a superhero!” -- give this Captain Marvel’s Smoothie Bowl a try!
Smoothie Bowls on Campus
Last Fall, The Dairy Alliance staff teamed up with a dining hall on the campus of North Carolina State University and offered a make-your-own smoothie bowl line. Students had the choice of two different chilled smoothie bases and then could top their own bowls with fresh and dried fruit, chocolate chips, granola, chia, and flax seeds. Survey results from the students revealed they were excited to have this delicious, vegetarian protein option and many said they would like to have this option every morning at breakfast!
Sarah Hester, MS, RD
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