Very Berry Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie bowls are beautiful, even when simple ||by beautiful Ingredient

very berry smoothie bowl||by beautiful ingredient

Does looking at this smoothie bowl in the cold mid-winter make you shiver? I get it. I'm all about seasonal foods, and diving into bowls of soup this time of year is a favorite pastime. Usually this time of year, breakfast is a comforting bowl of oatmeal. And yet, I guess we did have ice cream ("nice" cream) last night. And I had a smoothie bowl like this just this morning. The kids each had one after school. The fact is, even on the coldest week yet this winter (which this has been for us) we still can have a desire to reach for summery cold treats -especially the kids, who don't seem to have any desire to take a break from such fun frozen foods. Plus, by now we really miss having fresh berries. So, yay for frozen berries! Yay for freezers! Yay for how satisfying cold sweet treats can be, even in winter! Yay for quick meals like this! Simple and packed with flavor and nutrition. A smoothie bowl for breakfast isn't quite as dramatic as taking an early-morning Polar Bear Plunge; it's just a refreshing, delicious way to start a winter day, once in awhile.

I have Dr. Michael Greger's Daily Dozen app on my cell phone, which I find to be a helpful reminder of what to make sure I eat in a day. He includes berries on the list, so drinking this smoothie allows me to mark off my berry serving for the day, as well as a serving of cruciferous veggies. Check and check! If adding 1 tablespoons of flax meal to a smoothie bowl, it's another check for daily flaxseeds. I highly recommend this app. I don't use many, but this one actually helps cover nutritional bases for the day in a very easy way.

the beautiful ingredients in a very berry smoothie || by beautiful ingredient

I love that smoothies are quick and easy to put together: place the ingredients in a blender and blend. Done. I was happy to find gorgeous purple kale at the local grocery store when shopping for this recipe, so used that to help deepen the smoothie's red color.

this is a very berry smoothie bowl happening || by beautiful Ingredient

Toppings can be whatever you like - another bonus with smoothies. I added fresh kiwi and frozen blueberries with sprinkles of cacao nibs and hemp seeds. Very simple. Doesn't have to be fancy, though that's fun if you have the time. If on the go, just have a smoothie and skip the bowl - pour the blended smoothie into a to-go cup and hit the road. I will take the bowl whenever possible though; I'd rather not skip the toppings and enjoy the slower pace of eating the smoothie vs. drinking it.