Why Greens are Awesome+ Green Smoothie Bowls

We all know that eating greens gives you energy and makes you feel great, but do you know why? Leafy greens (chard, kale, collard and mustard greens to name a few) are known to be some of the most nutrient dense foods. They are low in calories and high in fiber, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium and are known to lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Greens are also rich in chlorophyll so when we eat them oxygen is delivered directly to our bloodstream, acting as a detoxifier and energizer. According to raw food pioneer Ann Wigmore, “consuming chlorophyll is like receiving a healthy blood transfusion.” The greens in green smoothies already broken down, making digestion easier and allowing the chlorophyll to assimilate into our bodies right away. That’s why we feel great after just one sip!

In this previous post I shared my basic green smoothie recipe as well as a little about about why green smoothies are awesome. Now let’s take our smoothies up a notch by turning them into green smoothie bowls! I like to make green smoothie bowls on mornings where I have a little extra time to enjoy my breakfast or as an afternoon snack. They’re super satisfying because they’re packed with energy from blended greens, but also have crunchy components- it feels like eating a bowl of cereal!

Below you’ll find visual instructions for my basic green smoothie bowl. We’ll start with Ilene’s Basic Green Smoothie (or any green smoothie of your choice) and add sliced banana, blueberries, sunflower seeds, almonds and raw cacao nibs.

Ilene’s Basic Green Smoothie Bowl