Happy New Year, everyone!
Today is the perfect day for sharing a refreshing, nourishing breakfast option: Matcha Green Smoothie Bowls. It will jumpstart your well-being as well as revive your taste buds following the delicious richness of the previous month of holiday treats and meals.
Smoothies are a regular part of my breakfast and snack routine, but I admit I was (initially) lukewarm when I heard abot smoothie bowls from a friend. Why sit down and spoon up what I have been savoring through a straw for so many years?
The simplest answer is this: toppings.
When said friend gushed about topping her smoothie bowls with toasted nuts, seeds, granola, muesli, and chunks of fresh fruit, I got it. For as much as I enjoy the convenience of sipping a smoothie, there are many mornings (and afternoons) when I want to chew! I am sure there are medical anthropologists out there who can speak to the human desire to chew, but suffice to say, I can only drink so much of my food before my hand is reaching for a handful of crackers.
Sitting down with my first official smoothie bowl illuminated the second reason for turning to smoothie bowls: slowing down to eat. Sure, life is busy, Mornings are hectic. But given (or creating) the opportunity to set a place at the table and relish 5 to 10 minutes for breakfast is worth the effort. The food tastes more delicious (perhaps because I am actually tasting it?), my outlook on the day brightens, and, fancy this, I feel satisfied far longer than when I gulp on the go. Thanks, green smoothie bowl, for the reminder.
Now, as for the recipe: options abound, but I was especially inspired by Dana over at the Minimalist Baker. I used her recipe as inital inspiration, then added my own twists and turns, including a dose of bright green matcha (green tea powder). My Januaries need the caffeine boost, among the other nutritional benefits of matcha 🙂 Frozen chunks of mango and apple were my primary forms of sweetness, but you can use what you have on hand. Happy spooning!
Matcha Green Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups (moderately packed) fresh spinach leaves
- 1/2 cup frozen mango chunks
- 1/2 cup chopped apple (I frozen mine for added thickness)
- 1/2 of a small Haas avocado
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (more, if needed)
- 1 teaspoon matcha (Japanese green tea powder)
- Optional: sweetener of choice
- Suggested Toppings: nuts, seeds, diced fruit, berries, granola, muesli, wheat germ, flaxseed meal, shredded coconut
- Read more at: http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2015/06/02/smoothie-bowls-for-a-smarter-morning/?oc=linkback
Instructions
- In a blender, process the spinach, mango, apple, avocado, almond milk and matcha until blended, thick and smooth. Add a splash more almond milk if too thick or a few ice cubes if mixture is not thick enough (spoonable). Sweeten to taste, as desired and serve in a bowl topped with any of your favorite toppings!
Nutrition Information
Serving Size entire recipeAmount Per Serving Calories 210Total Fat 11.8gSaturated Fat 2.2gCholesterol 0mgSodium 142mgCarbohydrates 26.8gFiber 7.7gSugar 16.6gProtein 3.6g
Matcha Green Smoothie Bowl | A Sincere Soul's Life Experiences
Tuesday 2nd of February 2016
[…] This recipe is a slight modification of the following: http://powerhungry.com/2016/01/matcha-green-smoothie-bowl/ […]