The Best Banana-Free Acai Bowl

The Best Banana-Free Acai Bowl

by | Aug 11, 2018 | Health, Home, Recipes

After my candida prevention protocol, following my wisdom teeth surgery, I wasn’t eating fruit.  I may have consumed a few dates here and there but I largely stayed away from fruit.  I finally feel like my body is in a better place where it can tolerate fruit so I’m siked to enjoy some of my old favorite foods!

HELLO ACAI SMOOTHIE BOWLSSSS 💃💃💃

My elimination diet showed me that ripe bananas aren’t all that great for me.  Barely yellow bananas are more tolerable but the nice, sweet, RIPE bananas I enjoyed before throw off my blood sugar.  Therefore, I’m choosing to keep my banana intake to a minimum.  So how else can you get a smoothie bowl to taste sweet and creamy sans bananas?  I’m about to show you! 😉

Frozen fruit & veg – As you may remember from my Sweet & Fluffy Smoothie Bowl post, FROZEN ingredients are always the way to go to make a smoothie thicker.  I also make sure to include a powerhouse fruit like MANGO to help compensate for the flavors banana would otherwise provide.

Yogurt – A game-changing ingredient that provides some creaminess and body.  Use whatever kind you like but this Forager Project one is the best dairy-free kind I’ve tried!

Superfoods – I like to throw in some flax mixed with water—a “flax egg”—for creaminess and fiber.  The addition of protein powder also helps to provide staying power and more substance than the typical acai shop bowl.   I like a neutral-tasting protein powder such as hemp because it allows the acai and fruit flavors to take center stage.

If you’re into lower sugar or alternative ways to make your favorite sweet treats, then you’ll love this bowl!  Tell me what your go-to smoothie order or combination is in the comments down below 🙂

Ingredients:

½ of a 5.3 oz container of yogurt (or ¼ cup), I used Forager Project Cashewgurt

A handful of frozen spinach (about ½ cup)

1 flax egg (or 1 tbsp flax but soaking it helps make it bind better)

½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries*

¼ cup frozen mango chunks

1 packet of frozen acai puree, I used Sambazon Pure Unsweetened Acai

2 tbsp hemp seed protein powder, I used Nutiva hemp protein

Toppings: local bee pollen, homemade granola, more blueberries, and peanut-cashew butter

Directions:

  1. If you haven’t yet made a flax egg, add the tablespoon of ground flax plus three tablespoons of water to the blender and wait 5 minutes for it to thicken.
  2. Then, add all of the other ingredients to a blender or food processor (my lazy go-to) and blend until thoroughly combined.
  3. Serve in a bowl with whatever fresh toppings your heart desires! I like berries but you can totally skip fruit toppings and opt for low-sugar granola, nut butter, bee pollen, and coconut. (Okay, usually I add coconut but I forgot this time!) 

Note: *If using fresh blueberries, your smoothie bowl will be a little more liquidy than frozen but it is still delicious! 

Be sure to tag me in your photos on Instagram if you make this smoothie bowl! @melaniemakesithappen #melmakesithappen 😀

I hope you enjoy this Banana-Free Acai Bowl as much as I do! xoxo

Sweet and Fluffy Smoothie Bowl

Sweet and Fluffy Smoothie Bowl

by | Jul 2, 2018 | Health, Home, Recipes

Have you ever wondered how to make your smoothies ultra thick and fluffy but just end up with a flat fruity liquid?  Stay tuned for my top fluffy smoothie tips!

As I write this, I’m currently at home, in my comfy clothes, and with a mouth full of stitches.  Okay, that sounds dramatic but, with all seriousness, I did just get my wisdom teeth removed.  I know the thought of dentists and teeth weirds some people out so go ahead and skip to the bottom if you’re just here for the recipe.  

Ever since November of last year, I knew 2018 was going to be the year I would get my wisdom teeth removed.  My dentist has been telling me they were surfacing and close to pushing on my other teeth.  So, after my last dental check-up, I just bit the bullet and made an appointment. 

I’ve never had cavities or any big problems with my teeth so I can’t say I had too many concerns going in.  Obviously the pain was concerning.  Also, the fact that I would need to take some days off of work for recuperation was concerning (since I’m currently on my first year probationary period).   Though, the real fright came the day of my wisdom teeth extraction when I got some news sprung on me.

While I was prepared to get all four of my teeth pulled out, I was not prepared for was the information my dentist gave me that day.  Apparently, my two bottom teeth were literally grazing the top of a very sensitive nerve canal in my jaw.  Basically, my dentist said, if the nerve gets damaged during the extraction, I could end up with numbness for a few weeks, months, or even a lifetime. 

Perfect timing to break this to me, doc.

The chances were super slim.  Apparently 99% people who have that occur will regain feeling within six months.  So, I mean, my wisdom teeth were still wreaking havoc in my mouth… I figured I just needed to go through with the procedure as planned.

Thankfully, I’m here three days later and I’m okay.  My cheeks are super swollen but I hardly have pain so that is good.  I was even able to eat some solid (but soft) food today!  Yay!

Let’s keep up the spirit of celebration by talking about this Sweet and Fluffy Smoothie Bowl, yeah?

Sometimes a drinkable smoothie is good.  Sometimes a thick frozen puree is calling my name.  And sometimes, I’m craving a fluffy cloud for breakfast.  Anyone else?

If you have trouble getting your smoothie fluffy, use these ingredients:

Frozen banana – a usual suspect in smoothies but undeniably the best creamy and naturally sweet addition.

Chia seeds – add a tablespoon to your smoothie liquid (milk or water) to soak before adding the rest of your ingredients.  Trust me.  The soaked chia makes ALL the difference.

Ground flaxseed – follow the same method for the chia seeds for an easy, nutritious way to add body to a smoothie.

Frozen mango – serves to add thickness and fluff, and sweetness, just like banana.

Frozen cauliflower – the trendy fruit-free smoothie thickener.  When mixed with other berries, spices, or flavored powders, it will remain unrecognizable in your smoothie.  Try my Sweet Potato Cinnamon Peach Smoothie!

Frozen zucchini – you’ve seen me use this in previous smoothies like my Green Banana Tahini Shake and Zucchini Smoothie Bowl.  I love using this light and easily digestible vegetable to give my smoothie some body.

Protein powder – it’s hard to get a fruit-only smoothie to be fluffy but add in some protein powder and suddenly it becomes a thick shake-like texture.

And for a new fluffy smoothie ingredient discovery of mine…oat milk!

Oat milk – make your own by soaking half a cup of dry rolled oats in 2-3 cups of water.  Blend and strain as you would nut milk (reserve the oat pulp for overnight oats!).  The starchiness from the oats releases into the water which helps add incredible thickness to any smoothie.

This list of ingredients is not comprehensive but it does include my go-to choices for making a delicious, thick smoothie.  Tinker around with whichever ingredients sound good to you.  Mix one or two with your favorite fruit or greens and let me know what you think!

If you want a little inspiration for how to combine some of these fluff-boosters then look no further.

sweet and fluffy smoothie bowl

The addition of Minimalist Baker’s Rawnola, bee pollen, and ground flax make this breakfast bowl a real treat.

Sweet and Fluffy Smoothie Bowl
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Cuisine: Vegan
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 1 bowl
I use a combination of my top fluff-boosters to make this ultra creamy, dreamy, and fluffy smoothie bowl!
Ingredients
  • 1 cup oat milk
  • ¼ cup frozen cauliflower
  • ½ cup frozen mango
  • 1 tbsp frozen banana
  • 1 scoop vanilla plant-based protein powder
  • Optional toppings: frozen blueberries, Minimalist Baker’s rawnola, bee pollen, ground flax
Instructions
  1. Add ¾ cup of the milk and frozen goods to the blender. Process until everything is nice and smooth.
  2. Add the protein powder and, if needed, the remaining milk to the blender.
  3. Let the blender run for at least a minute. The longer it blends, the more the ingredients get whipped (aka FLUFFY).
  4. Once your smoothie is sufficiently fluffed, pour it into a bowl and add whatever toppings you like. I’ve been loving rawnola and bee pollen lately but coconut or fresh fruit would also be good! Enjoy!

sweet and fluffy smoothie bowl

Thanks so much for reading!  I am living off of pureed soups and smoothies these days but you definitely don’t need to have your wisdom teeth pulled out to enjoy this baby.  If you give it a try—or if you try using any of my favorite fluff-boosters—let me know what you think!  xoxo

 

Blueberry Coconut Smoothie Bowl

Blueberry Coconut Smoothie Bowl

by | Apr 25, 2017 | Health, Home, Recipes

On cold days, on rainy days, on sunny days, or cloudy days, I will always be in the mood for a smoothie.  In fact, the jury is still out on whether I consume more smoothies in winter months or summertime.

Blueberry Coconut Smoothie Bowl

On a slightly related side note:

there was a lot of mud from the previous night’s rain when I made this smoothie bowl.  I didn’t let that stop me from marching outside in my boots to snap a picture. 🙂 The lighting is much better outdoors!  Plus, my neighbors would probably wonder where I’m at if they didn’t see me go outside to take a picture of my breakfast.  You know, ‘cause that’s the usual these days.

Anyway, this photo is from a while back but I’ve had this for breakfast a number of times since.  I rarely make the same smoothie twice but there is something particularly crave-worthy about blueberries that makes me want to have them in a smoothie several days in a row.  This simple smoothie is the best way to make that happen.

Blueberry Coconut Smoothie
Recipe Type: Breakfast, Smoothie
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 1 smoothie
Creamy coconut milk combines with frozen banana and blueberries to make a delicious rich and tropical smoothie.
Ingredients
  • 1 medium to large banana, frozen
  • ¾ cup of blueberries, frozen
  • ¼ cup of canned coconut milk
  • 1 serving of protein powder (optional)
  • Toppings: granola, blueberries, ground flax, coconut flakes
Instructions
  1. If using protein powder, add that to the blender first, followed by the coconut milk and frozen fruit.
  2. The smoothie might be tough to blend but it’s perfectly thick with a small amount of liquid. Add a tablespoon of additional milk to the blender if the mixture is not budging.
  3. Scoop the smoothie contents into a bowl and add the recommended toppings, or, simply some coconut flakes to jazz up the tropical factor.
Notes
Prep time does not include freezing the fruit. A very necessary step for the ultimate creamy smoothie!
Hidden Veg: Zucchini Smoothie Bowl

Hidden Veg: Zucchini Smoothie Bowl

by | Mar 20, 2017 | Health, Home, Recipes

When I was younger, I was not a fan of vegetables.  Like, at all.  Occasionally I would eat salad out of necessity to add color to my plate.  Though, I was definitely disappointed to learn that my favorite tomatoes and potatoes were not really even actual vegetables!

I’ve come a long way since then.

Heck, I’m all about the plant-based lifestyle these days.

Zucchini Smoothie Bowl

I am a big fan of fruit and always have been.  Though, I know I can go a little overboard on it sometimes so I’m making efforts to incorporate more vegetables into my meals.  Lunch and dinner are easier but breakfast is not usually the place this sweets-lover thinks of eating a vegetable.

A handful of greens can usually sneak by in a smoothie but there’s no disguising the taste.  Zucchini, on the other hand, is basically water.  When frozen, the zucchini adds some frosty thickness to any smoothie or, my fave, a smoothie bowl.

It’s the perfect bowl for getting in some vegetables and keeping sugar intake low.

Many times smoothie bowls can pack a sugar punch but not this one.  You may want to opt for some sweet toppings or peanut butter 😜 because the bowl itself isn’t very sweet.  Let me know what you think if you try it out!

Zucchini Smoothie Bowl

Zucchini Smoothie Bowl
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Cuisine: Vegan, Vegetarian
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 1 smoothie bowl
A great smoothie bowl for getting in some veggies, greens, berries, and fruit all in one. Yet, it is lower in sugar than traditional fruit-only smoothies. Many times smoothie bowls can pack a sugar punch but not this one. Opt for a few sweet toppings on top, instead.
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup water, beet juice, or milk of choice
  • 1 small handful of baby kale (1/2 cup)
  • 1 serving of protein powder (I used Nativas Naturals Vanilla)
  • ½ medium frozen zucchini (chopped into 3-4 pieces to make it easier on your blender)
  • 1 medium frozen banana, ripe is best
  • ¼-1/3 cup blackberries, fresh or frozen
  • Topping ideas: kiwi, granola, ground flax, or peanut butter
Instructions
  1. Add the liquid (I used beet juice) and kale to the blender first. Blitz until the leaves are broken down.
  2. Then, add in the protein powder, slices of zucchini, banana, and blackberries. Blend thoroughly. (My blender isn’t the strongest but it was able to process the ingredients without added liquid. Feel free to add a tablespoon or two of water if your blender needs some help.)
  3. Pour the smoothie into a bowl and top with some of your favorite goods and eat!
Notes
Prep time does not include freezing time for the banana or zucchini
Valentine’s Day Smoothie Bowl

Valentine’s Day Smoothie Bowl

by | Feb 14, 2017 | Health, Home, Recipes

Hey, so, call me cheesy, but I made a Valentine’s Day themed smoothie bowl.  I felt inspired by a smoothie I saw on Miami Wellness Club that used beets.  You might have seen my smoothie bowl on my Instagram but I thought I’d catalog this recipe here on my blog.

I experimented with some beet juice that I had from Love Beets and used that as the liquid to get this beauty happening.  You could also use the soaking liquid from home-cooked beets or plain nut milk.  It is healthy, fruity, and made a meal with some protein powder.  I used vanilla but I bet chocolate protein powder would taste equally delicious. Valentine's Day Smoothie Bowl

Let me know if you try this smoothie recipe out!

Valentine’s Day Smoothie Bowl
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 1 smoothie
A bright pink (or red) smoothie bowl in honor of Valentine’s Day. It’s healthy and fruit-filled and makes for the perfect breakfast.
Ingredients
  • 1 small frozen banana
  • 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
  • 1/2 cup sliced & frozen strawberries
  • 1 serving of vanilla plant-based protein powder
  • 1/2 cup Love Beets organic beet juice, more if needed
  • Toppings: strawberries, raspberries, granola (optional)
Instructions
  1. Add the protein powder to the blender first, followed by the beet juice and frozen fruit.
  2. The smoothie might be tough to blend but pause your blender and push down on the sides of the mixture to help it combine.
  3. Once blended, scoop the smoothie contents into a bowl with some toppings, or, simply enjoy as a smoothie on its own.