Have you noticed ALL the smoothie bowls around the net? They are hard to miss- so beautiful and colorful….they’re definitely eye-catching! Why don’t I have one on my blog?
I started eating smoothie bowls when I lived in Hawaii about 5 years ago! There was this little place called Lanikai Juice, about a mile and a half from our condo. I would take the two kids (all I had at the time) in the double stroller just to get out of the house. We’d walk around all afternoon until daddy got off work- there were cafes, shops, the grocery store. I spent a lot of time on foot.
I simply adored living there; our life with so carefree. We lived in this tiny 1,100 square foot condo with bare bones decorations, but we lived a mile from Kailua beach….in Hawaii! We didn’t care about having “stuff”. We just enjoyed life outdoors with beautiful mother nature. Oh what I would do to get back there for a couple years.
But back to the smoothie bowls, if you’ve ever been to the island of Oahu, Kailua you’ve probably passed a Lanikai juice which is a super popular smoothie/smoothie bowl joint (there are several locations on the island).
If you were a total tourist you might just play is safe and order a smoothie because smoothie bowls are kind of odd if you you aren’t familiar with them…….but boy, they sure were they the “it” thing.
What is the difference between a smoothie and a smoothie bowl you might ask? Not a lot. Basically you eat out the smoothie of a bowl with a spoon instead of a cup and straw. The other difference is the ability to enjoy a plethora of toppings. At Lanikai juice they top their bowls with things like coconut, granola and different fruit such as sliced banana, strawberries, mango, pineapple.
There is something more satisfying about eating with a spoon than just slurping down a drink. Call it chewing, perhaps?? I don’t know, as much as I likes smoothies, I like to chew.
Just likes smoothies though the combinations are endless. What ever you want to blend up, give it a go. Pour it into a bowl and top it with some deliciousness. Devour with your spoon. Call it a smoothie bowl.
I used acai (ah-sigh-we) juice in this one. Acai is a super fruit harvested from the Amazon rainforest. It’s a powerful antioxidant and I read that it has 10 to 30 times the anthocyanins as red wine! Not that you are going to get me to ditch my wine for Acai juice, but still interesting. It also has healthy essential fatty acids (the omegas). The perfect energy fruit.
Gosh this whole post just makes me miss Hawaii. Only one more year to our biennial family vacation there. I CAN’T WAIT.
Well friends I am heading off to Portland today for the Indulge Food Blogging conference. I am so excited. The agenda looks amazing and I look forward to meeting some of the rockstar speakers. I’ll be sure to fill you in next week!
But in the meantime try a smoothie bowl!
[Tweet “Hawaii In A Bowl! Acai Smoothie Bowl via @nutritiouseats #fitfluential #vegan #glutenfree”]
- 1 cup milk of choice (I used soy)
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- ½ large banana (sliced and frozen if possible)
- ½ cup acia juice
- 3-4 pieces of ice
- Toppings:
- Raspberries
- Granola (gluten free if needed)
- Banana, sliced
- Dried unsweetened coconut
- Mango, diced
- Blend all smoothie ingredients until smooth. Transfer to a bowl (or bowls if sharing). Top with desired amounts of toppings. Enjoy with a spoon!
nut butter
chia seeds
hemp seeds
sunflower seeds
pineapple
blueberries
papaya
honey
Peanut Butter Pancakes
Roasted Tomato Salsa
Honey Peanut Chicken Satay
Easy Vegetable Soup
I’m excited to try this! I’ve been wanting to try an acai bowl for awhile, but all the recipes I’ve seen call for Acai smoothie packs, which I haven’t been able to find locally.
Janelle @ Wholly Healthy recently posted..Destructive Anxiety Thought Patterns & How to Deal with Them
Yeah, this is the easy way out. 😉 Enjoy! and thanks!
You can try it with frozen acai from Sambazon. Holy moly! So good. I also use coconut milk.
Melanie – I just adore all of your recipes and cannot wait to try more of your ideas. I’d love for you to write more about your adventures in Hawaii. Sounds like a “religious” experience. Springtime here in Chicago is a religious experience for me. I am so happy when the icky white stuff goes away.
Please keep blogging and writing and inspiring. 🙂
Looks so yummy, I have been into smoothie bowls lately too!
Jennifer F recently posted..Body Boosting Fitness Shake and Bodyweight Leg Workout
Fun! Love all the topping options.
When we were in Hawaii in December, I think I had an Acai bowl daily. Could. not.get.enough. I’ve been on a serious smoothie bowl kick and have got my kids hooked too. I’m all about the toppings!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..High Five Friday
I know, and of course they taste even better there. 😉
when i visited san diego, i LOVED being able to buy acai bowls on every corner! st. louis – not so much! i guess i could make them at home… haha
Linz @ Itz Linz recently posted..Honey Vanilla Chia Pudding
Haha, I hear ya.
Looks amazing! I’ve really been in to turning my smoothies into bowls lately because I just love the addition of nuts and granola. And the coconut flakes are genius!
xo, Lisa // Strum Simmer Sip
I agree, the toppings are worth it! 🙂
Great minds do blend alike! LOVE your Acai Smoothie Bowl version, and it’s so pretty too! And, I am suddenly craving a trip to Hawaii now. I wonder why 🙂 Hang in there until you can go back next year! xoxo
EA-The Spicy RD recently posted..Happy Things, Healthy Living: Wild Blueberry Acai Smoothie Bowl, Maple Sea Salt Pumpkin Seeds, and More!
delicious smoothie bowl! need to try this one!
Tianna recently posted..Random Friday Favorites #37 | Natural Teas
well you sure know how to make me crave all the fruit and HAWAII! gosh darn it. Can we go now? I miss the ocean and that food!
I love acai bowls from Lanikai Juice. I live in Kailua and instantly recognized your picture of the Mokes from the Pillbox hike. I have just a few more months left in Hawaii before I move back to the mainland and am really going to miss Hawaii and the acai bowls!
I must get some Acai packs!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted..Friday Finisher 5/29/15
Those pictures of Hawaii are beautiful! So jealous you used to live there! This smoothie bowl is also beautiful, just bought a ton of raspberries so I will have to try! Pinned!
Heather Mason @NuttyNutrition recently posted..Cherry Vanilla Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
I haven’t had a good smoothie bowl in looong while, and why haven’t I fixed the problem yet? Your photos make me want to hop on a plane to visit Hawaii again! Also, it was soo great meeting you this weekend, Melanie! Hope you had a safe travel back to Washington!
Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits recently posted..Caramelized Onion Hummus with Smoked Salmon
I love acai bowls so much!