Home » Type » Smoothies » Enlighten Smoothie Bowl (Healthy + Easy)
Jump to Recipe
Enlighten Smoothie Bowl is the ultimate thick and creamy smoothie in a bowl topped with a healthy mix of colorful toppings for a delicious breakfast or treat that’s easy to make!
The best smoothie bowl of all, similar to my Acai Bowl, is dairy-free, gluten-free, and topped with healthy ingredients adding texture, flavor, and color!
We encourage adding smoothies to your meal rotation!
Table of Contents show
Why We Love This Recipe!
- Smoothie bowls are a great way to add fresh fruits and superfoods to your diet!
- Adding one daily – or almost daily – to your meal routine, you will find just how much your body can transform itself with simple, clean food!
- It’s easy to customize using various fruits and toppings and is delicious as can be!
Ingredient Notes
Fruit – Use about 2 cups of any mix of fruit, some frozen and some fresh. Common fruits to use in smoothies are strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, mango, pineapple, and banana.
Non-dairy milk – Use your favorite plant based milk – almond, oat, soy, rice, etc. You can also use water or unsweetened fruit juice in place of milk.
Add optional protein – Since fruits don’t have much protein, I encourage you to add a serving of natural nut butter or a scoop of vegan protein powder to the mix. Adding 2 tablespoons of almond butter will give you an added 8 grams of protein. Protein powders will vary, but most will give you quite a bit more than a serving of nut butter.
Are Fruit Sugars Healthy?
Yes! Although fruit does have natural sugar, they also contain vitamins, antioxidants, and trace elements the body needs, unlike refined sugar. Fruit is nature’s candy and should be enjoyed without reservation unless advised otherwise by a medical professional. Instead, give up the sugary packaged foods, grab some fresh or frozen fruit, add a few superfoods, whip up an enlightened smoothie bowl, and feel the difference!
How To Make The Best Smoothie Bowl
Making a smoothie in a bowl is easy as can be!
- Pick your fruits. For this recipe, I used 1 1/2 cups of a frozen berry blend and fresh bananas.
- Add optional protein. I also added two tablespoons of peanut butter.
- Blend it all together. Toss it all in a blender cup with unsweetened non-dairy milk or water, and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Add the toppings. Pour into serving bowls and top with your favorite toppings (see below for suggestions).
Healthy Smoothie Bowl Toppings
Healthy smoothie bowl toppings are almost endless – adding more flavor, texture, and nutrients.
Go simple or all-out, mixing and matching, making your perfect smoothie in a bowl!
- Hemp hearts – are a good source of omega-3 & 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, protein, iron, and vitamin B! I usually pick mine up online (affiliate link), but they can be found in stores too.
- Strawberries – are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Strawberries are on the dirty dozen list, so purchase organic whenever possible.
- Blueberries – are low-sugar and loaded with antioxidants.
- Almonds – are rich in protein and a good source of vitamin E while adding crunch.
- Bananas – are economical and creamy and add just the right amount of sweetness. Plus, they are great for gut health!
- Raspberries – are another low-sugar fruit loaded with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.
- Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) – are great for those with nut allergies, adding protein and crunch.
- Kiwi – are rich in vitamin C and fiber and add a nice pop of color.
- Blackberries – are rich in fiber, vitamin C, and manganese and are low in sugar.
- Chia seeds – are a good source of omega-3 & 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, iron, and calcium! I buy mine in bulk at Sprouts.
- Cacao nibs – are rich in antioxidants and add crunchy bits of healthy chocolate. I pick up mine in bulk online (affiliate link) and keep them stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Nut butter – adds healthy plant-based protein and creaminess. Use peanut, cashew, or almond butter. Blend it in, or add a dollop to the top of your smoothie bowl. For nut allergies, use sun butter instead.
- Coconut – I toast my coconut for about 5 minutes at 400 degrees F., let it cool down, then store it in airtight containers, so it’s handy when making smoothies.
- Granola – I love the Targets Good & Gather vanilla granola, but Sprouts also has a terrific vanilla-flavored granola mix in the bulk section. Or use your favorite.
- Goji berries – are antioxidant-rich and a good source of vitamins A and C. I pick mine up online (affiliate link).
Smoothie Bowl Tips
The riper the banana the better. Overripe bananas, which are nice and spotty, are much sweeter and more flavorful.
Use sliced bananas. This may be a given, but sliced bananas are easier to blend for a thicker, creamier smoothie. So be sure to slice them before freezing them for the best results.
Use a mix of fruits or all of one kind. I like the flavor of mixed fruits, but if you only have one or two types of berries, you can adjust to your needs. You can even change up the berries, adding pineapple, mango, etc.
More Smoothie Recipes!
Because you can never have too many smoothie recipes, whether in a bowl or in a glass!
- Chocolate Almond Butter Smoothie Bowl
- Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
- Berry + Yogurt Smoothie
- Vanilla Date Smoothie
- Or see all the Smoothie recipes!
If you try this healthy recipe or have a question, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
Enlighten Smoothie Bowl
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
5 from 3 reviews
The smoothie bowls of all smoothie bowls feature tons of color and texture and full of delicious flavor!
- Author: Julie | The Simple Veganista
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Serves 1 – 2 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Smoothie
- Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
smoothie mix
- 1 1/2 cups berry mix (or frozen fruit mix of choice)
- 2 bananas, 1 fresh + 1 frozen (use the other fresh half sliced on top)
- 2 tablespoons almond butter or nut butter (or 1 scoop vegan protein powder), optional
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk or water
some optional toppings
- granola
- coconut
- cacao nibs
- natural nut butter (almond, peanut, sunflower, etc.)
- banana
- blueberries
- strawberries
- grapes
- kiwi
- goji berries
- hemp hearts
- chia seeds
- pomegranate seeds
- almonds
- pumpkin seeds
Instructions
In a blender, place berry mix, banana, nut butter, and liquids. Blend until thick and creamy. Pour into a serving dish and top with whatever toppings you like.
Serves one or two small.
Notes
Add extra water as needed once blended. If using protein powder you may find you need a little extra.
Adding nuts and seeds as part of your toppings will add extra protein.
Nutrition information includes 2 tablespoon almond butter, omit for a low-fat smoothie or use protein powder.
Updated:This recipe was originally published in April 2014. It has been retested and updated with new photos and helpful tips in April 2021.
FOLLOW TSVonFacebook,Instagram,Pinterest,orRSSfor more updates and inspiration!
