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What do we crave the most during summers? Chilled drinks, fresh and sweet fruits, and the lightest possible meals. If these are the foods you crave then smoothie bowls are the best answer for your needs. In case you didn’t know, a smoothie bowl is the kind of smoothie you have out of a bowl instead of a cup or glass. Thick with yoghurt, fruits and veggies, smoothie bowls are considered to be meals because they are usually loaded with plenty of toppings like fresh-cut fruits, berries, oats and grains, dry fruits, granola, seeds and nuts.
Because of all of these contents, smoothie bowls can be your best friend during summer months. Smoothie bowls are usually made with a thick blend of yoghurt, fruits and veggies, which is an absolutely healthy way to stay hydrated and nourished. Yoghurt is a natural coolant and probiotic, so eating it can not only keep you cool during summer months but also help your gut stay healthy. Veggies are packed with plenty of fibre, vitamins, minerals, plant proteins and antioxidants. Fruits, both fresh and frozen, are packed with lots of water, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants—so eating them in as many varieties and colours possible is definitely something you should do during summer.
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When it comes to the toppings added to smoothie bowls, their nutritional value also counts. If you are adding dry fruits, nuts, seeds and grains or oats, then that would automatically make the smoothie bowl one packed with dietary fibre, plant proteins (which are easier to digest during summer) and other essential nutrients. Smoothie bowls are, in fact, complete meals when made right. Wondering how to do that to stay healthy and satiated this summer? Here are some tips that will come in handy.
Maintain Hygiene
It is very easy to get stomach ailments during summer months, so make sure you maintain hygiene levels while making smoothies. This is because smoothies are basically made of raw foods, so any dirt on the surface of the ingredients can taint the smoothie. It is equally important to soak the fruits and peel them properly as the skin may have pesticide residues. Any leafy greens you use should be thoroughly rinsed. Make sure the toppings are also washed, cleaned and then used.
Get A Good Blender
A good blender is of the utmost importance if you want to make lots and lots of smoothie bowls as well as other summer drinks this season. A quality blender with a good speed and a variety of blades can help you get the right consistency for the smoothies. Remember, a smoothie is a blend of different fruits and some people also add raw veggies and leafy greens to them. A good blender can help you make a thick mush of these ingredients much faster and better.
Go For Freshness
Always pick seasonal and fresh fruits, veggies and leafy greens for your smoothies. A smoothie bowl gives you the option to experiment with flavours, so don’t hesitate from trying a mix of a variety of fruits and veggies. For example, there’s no harm in making a smoothie with mangoes and cucumbers since both are available easily across India during summers. You can also experiment with the variety of Indian melons, lychees and desi leafy greens.
Image used for representative purpose. Image courtesy: Pexels
Avoid Artificial Products
You might be tempted to add some syrup or fruit juice to your smoothie, but remember that these can do more harm than good. If you used seasonal fruits, then your smoothies will turn out to be naturally sweet. But if you add syrups or fruit juices, you will end up consuming too much concentrated sugar and preservatives, which can actually increase dehydration during summer months. The same goes for pre-cut fruits and veggies.
Use Protein-Rich Bases
Yoghurt and milk are the most commonly used bases for smoothies, which is important because these provide plenty of proteins to the dish. If you are lactose intolerant or vegan, then opt for dairy-free yoghurt, soy milk, almond milk and other suitable ingredients—but never skip the use of milk or yoghurt. These ingredients improve the flavour as well as the nutritional value of smoothies after all.
Measure The Portion
Sure, smoothie bowls are super healthy and delicious, but they are also packed with plenty of calories. Even though they might not look that heavy—and really aren’t when it comes to their taste and flavour—smoothie bowls are actually packed with nutrient-dense ingredients. When combined together, the calorie level of a smoothie bowl can be quite high. So, make sure you manage the portion size and don’t overeat smoothie bowls simply because they are healthy.
Get Creative
As mentioned before, don’t shy away from experimenting with a variety of ingredients. There is no dearth of fresh fruits, veggies, dry fruits, nuts, seeds and grains in the Indian markets during summers, so try combining flavours that you enjoy. Your smoothie bowls can be savoury, sweet, slightly tangy or a bit spicy based on your preferences. There is no limit to the combinations you can try except those provided by your own imagination.
