This easy smoothie bowl tastes like the tropics and is made with five simple ingredients. Summer doesn't get much more delicious than this!
This is my youngest daughter's absolute favorite smoothie bowl (and she just happens to be my pickiest eater!). I don't know if it's the flavor, or color. But whatever it is, she loves it!
I had never heard of Blue Spirulina until a few years ago when I saw blue smoothie bowls at smoothie shops. I was wondering how they got them to be the color of the ocean and so I did a little research.
It turns out that Blue Spirulina is the secret ingredient, no food dyes involved! So great!
There are so many ways you can get creative with this smoothie bowl just by changing up the toppings. We've been loving it as pictured, with homemade granola, fresh blueberries, and sliced bananas.
Other times we've enjoyed topping this with macadamia nuts, chocolate chips, chia seeds, and freeze-dried strawberries. There are so many options!
For more healthy snack ideas for kids, try my lemon blueberry muffin, and energy ball, recipes! They are always a hit!
Why This Recipe is so Great
- Quick and easy recipe.
- Contains 13 grams of protein per serving.
- Simple ingredients.
- No added sugar. Naturally sweetened with fruit.
- Easily customizable with toppings for beach themed birthday parties.
- Blue Spirulina is used instead of food dye to get a tropical blue color.
- Also known as a mermaid smoothie bowl and blue spirulina smoothie bowl.
- High in fiber and protein so kids feel full longer.
Ingredient Notes
- Blue Spirulina Use blue spirulina, not green. Spirulina contains copper, thiamin, riboflavin, iron, amino acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, among other nutrients. It's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory affects continue to be studied. Purchase a trusted spirulina brand from a reputable company that tests its products for contaminants.
- Mango High in fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Use frozen mango. Buying frozen mango (as opposed to freezing your own) will save you time and money.
- Pineapple Contains manganese, copper, various vitamins (including vitamin C), and fiber. It also contains bromelain, an enzyme that is thought to help with digestion and reduce inflammation.
- Banana High in fiber and potassium. Using a frozen banana is key to achieving the consistency that kids love.
- Greek yogurt High in protein and good source of calcium. Greek yogurt is thicker than traditional yogurt, so it helps to give the smoothie bowl a nice thick consistency.
Dietitian Tip
Letting your kids 'dress up' their smoothie bowl by choosing what to use as toppings is an excellent way to increase acceptance and food expsure.
One way to do this is to put topping options in individual bowls so the kids see what they have to choose from. Then, let them decide what and how much to add.
One of my kids loves the 'aesthetics' of a well-topped smoothie bowl. If allowing her to decorate her own smoothie bowl means she'll thoroughly enjoy it, then great!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here's a quick overview of the steps to make this smoothie bowl. For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe.
- Blend all ingredients together in a high-speed blender.
- Serve and let your kids pick their toppings!
Topping ideas
- Freeze dried or fresh strawberries
- Banana slices
- Granola
- Blueberries or other berries
- Diced mango or pineapple
- Chia seeds
- Macadamia nuts or sliced almonds
- Chocolate chips, mini or standard sized (an absolute kid favorite!)
- Cacao nibs
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Expert Tips
- Start blending on the lowest setting. Gradually increase the blending speed.
- Use the tamper that comes with your high-speed blender to press the frozen fruit down into the blades and to keep the ingredients moving.
- If you choose to substitute one of the fruits, use a fruit that has a neutral color, so your kids are still served a pretty blue smoothie bowl.
- Adding less spirulina than the recipe calls for will result in a green color, not blue.
- Adding more spirulina than the recipe calls for will result in a darker blue color but will taste a little grittier which is less desirable for kids.
- This smoothie bowl is made to be eaten right away. If you are making this to be served in even 5-10 minutes, then store it in the freezer.
Recipe FAQs
Smoothie bowls are made with more frozen ingredients and less liquid than smoothies. They need to be eaten with a spoon because they are too thick to drink. And because they are so thick, toppings can be added and enjoyed without sinking to the bottom.
The blue powder added to smoothies is called Blue Spirulina. Blue Spirulina is a nutrient-rich blue-green algae.
This one is! As with many other questions like this, the most appropriate answer is "it depends". It depends on what ingredients are used and how they are presented to kids... and what your definition of 'healthy' is.
More Smoothie & Smoothie Bowl Recipes
Did your kids love this incredible tropical smoothie bowl? Please leave a 5-star rating below or a review in the comments section!
Don't forget to snap a pic of their delicious smoothie bowl with all of their favorite toppings and tag @carrots.and.cookies on Instagram so I can see it. Enjoy!
Tropical Blue Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cup 2% Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon blue spirulina up to one scoop of KOS Blue Spirulina (about 1 ½ teaspoons)
- 2 frozen bananas
- 2 cup frozen pineapple pieces
- 2 cup frozen mango pieces
Instructions
- Add ingredients to the blender in the order that they are listed.
- Blend all ingredients together in a high powered blender. Use the tamper that comes with your blender to keep the frozen fruit from getting stuck and to keep the ingredients moving.
- Divide into two bowls and let your kids top it with their favorite toppings.
Melanie Anders
I can't wait to try this! I was at OCNJ and bought a $10 "Playa Bowl" and thought, I have got to recreate this at home and at a better price. Thanks!
Kristi
You're welcome!