There are so many different smoothie and smoothie bowl combinations that there is always something that you will enjoy! You can make them thick or thin, creamy or icy, and savory or sweet! Whatever your smoothie preference, we are going to share with you some smoothie and smoothie bowl recipes, as well as ways to make them even healthier than they are!

Which is better, smoothies or smoothie bowls? Smoothie-making enthusiast Emma Pirollo votes for smoothie bowls. She shared with us her favorite smoothie bowl cafe and her favorite smoothie bowl recipe of her own. Emma’s favorite smoothie bowl cafe is Playa Bowls. This cafe offers many different smoothie bowl bases and toppings as well as poke bowls! Emma’s usual is the Pura Vida bowl. Emma also shared with us her own smoothie bowl recipe! “My favorite thing to make at home is a thick smoothie bowl. I use frozen banana, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and a tablespoon of vanilla” Emma said when asked what her smoothie bowl was made with. Emma then likes to top off her smoothie bowl with fresh fruit. After recreating her smoothie bowl, I found it to be the creamiest smoothie bowl! It is definitely worth trying! The flavors blended together nicely, and I found it easy to make it thick by using a Vitamix blender! 10/10 recommend this smoothie bowl. Brooklyn Coughenour, another smoothie lover, voted that smoothies were better! Brooklyn’s favorite smoothie consists of peanut butter, bananas, and a little bit of chocolate. I recreated her smoothie and found it to be super thick. It came out very creamy and blended smoothly using my normal Nutribullet blender. If I were to turn this into a smoothie bowl, I would add granola, honey, and fresh bananas on top! It is definitely packed with protein and I would recommend this to anyone!

Yes of course smoothies can taste really yummy, but are they actually good for you? Most smoothies from places like Tropical Smoothie Cafe or WaWa, include a ton of excess sugar that is not good for you. This is misleading because most people think they are being healthy when getting a smoothie. On the other hand, a place like Planet Smoothie can be very healthy. They allow you to add ingredients that are better for you. When choosing the right ingredients for a smoothie it all comes down to what you want it to benefit. Protein like peanut butter will keep you fuller longer, but also has a lot of calories. Adding bananas is a great source of calcium. Pumpkin adds potassium, fiber, and electrolytes for proper muscle function. Adding chia seeds is a great source of fiber if you’re looking to lose weight as it keeps you fuller longer and away from junk food cravings. This also includes spinach and any other leafy greens which are great sources of nutrients, and low in calories. These are just a few of the many beneficial ingredients you can add to your smoothies. Instead of going for that commercial brand store with sugary smoothies, go for the local business that adds better ingredients for your overall health. 

Adding these ingredients to the smoothies Emma and Brooklyn created will make you fuller longer, provide nutrients to your body to allow yourself to perform at your highest level, and also taste yummy. Whether you try a fruit smoothie or a vegetable smoothie, try adding these ingredients. Most of them you can’t even taste and it’s better than the sugary smoothies that are just as bad as a milkshake.