This red, white, and blue smoothie bowl is quick and easy to make and so delicious, you’ll forget how healthy it is!
Remember that homemade granola recipe I shared yesterday? I mentioned that I enjoy it in so many different ways, and a smoothie bowl is just one of them. I’ll admit that back when I first heard about smoothie bowls, I raised my eyebrows. Smoothies are meant to be drunk. Why put them in a bowl? Why add more things to them? Then I tried a smoothie bowl – or rather Little Miss did – and I was hooked.
Smoothies do belong in a bowl. Who knew!
I already ate a protein smoothie for breakfast most mornings, but now I’ve switched to a smoothie bowl. Part of why I loved drinking a protein smoothie every morning is that you can so easily switch it up. I keep a variety of frozen fruits in my house at all times, so I can easily change the flavors while keeping my basic routine intact. A smoothie bowl takes this and multiplies the ability to switch things up as the base flavor can change, but so can what I add to the top. I’m sharing my red, white, and blue smoothie bowl today, but I make all sorts of different smoothie bowls, depending on my mood.
These are easy to make – and they’d be even easier if I didn’t let the wee ones choose their own base flavors. It would be smarter of me to say “today we’re having pineapple mango” but… apparently I’m not that smart. If I did that, I could just make extra smoothie, pour it into each bowl, and add the toppings instead of making three different smoothie bases. I may be a mean mom in some ways, but apparently I’m a sucker when it comes to smoothie bowls.
So how easy is it?
How To Make a Red, White, and Blue Smoothie Bowl
Granted, I hear “red, white, and blue smoothie bowl” and think this is something for the Fourth of July or Memorial Day or a patriotic holiday, but nope, those are just the beautiful colors of the fruits that we’re starting to get more often (and cheaper) this time of year. Strawberries are in season down south, and I’m getting them for $1.25 a pound at my local grocery store. Blueberries are suddenly available and almost as inexpensive, so of course they’re going in my smoothie bowl. I’ll often add a sliced banana to this, as well, but the ones I have on hand are too ripe for my tastes, so the coconut suffices for the white in my smoothie bowl recipe.
While many people I know add sugar to their smoothies, I never have and never do. Fruit is plenty sweet, and we tend to eat too much sugar as it is. When I can enjoy something without adding sugar, I do. And it’s a good way to train your palate to not expect everything to be quite so sweet. And when you’re trying to be healthy… less sugar is a good thing, right?
Truly, all you need for the smoothie portion of this red, white, and blue smoothie bowl is some protein powder – which helps me stay fuller longer and gets me some of the protein that I need, as often that’s the one food group I tend to be low on – frozen cherries, spinach, and milk. While I tend to use coconut milk because that’s what we keep in the house, this works just as well with regular milk, almond, rice, or whatever milk product you prefer.
Add the milk to your blender and turn it to low. Add in the protein powder, then add the top if your blender has a removable insert so you can add items while leaving the cap in. Add spinach and then the cherries over the spinach. Start it on low and gradually turn up the speed until it is on high and let blend until the smoothie is completely mixed and ready to pour.
While the smoothie is blending, wash your blueberries and strawberries and slice your strawberries.
Pour smoothie into a bowl. If you want to make it pretty, add the granola in the center and the fruit in a circle around it, sprinkling the coconut at the end. Alternatively, create stripes of each ingredient over the smoothie bowl for a different look. It all tastes that same, so if you’re in a hurry, just add your toppings and start eating!
Red, White, and Blue Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 scoop protein powder
- 1/2 cup fresh spinach
- 2/3 cup frozen cherries
- 1/3 cup granola
- 3-4 fresh strawberries
- 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
- 2 tablespoons shredded coconut unsweetened
- 1 banana sliced (optional)
Instructions
- Add milk to the blender and turn on low. Add protein powder, then spinach and frozen cherries and add lid. Slowly turn up speed and blend at high speed until it reaches a smoothie consistency.3/4 cup milk, 1 scoop protein powder, 1/2 cup fresh spinach, 2/3 cup frozen cherries
- While smoothie is blending, wash strawberries and blueberries. Slice strawberries and banana (if using).
- Pour smoothie into a bowl. Top with granola, strawberries, blueberries, coconut, and any banana. Serve immediately.1/3 cup granola, 3-4 fresh strawberries, 1/4 cup fresh blueberries, 2 tablespoons shredded coconut, 1 banana
Notes
- Feel free to use your favorite milk. I often use coconut milk and a plant based protein powder to make this vegan. You can find the recipe for the homemade granola here
- For more tips and tricks, be sure to read the full article above.
Nutrition
This site uses an online source to provide nutrition estimates as a courtesy. If you need exact values, please calculate yourself.