Loaded Spirulina Smoothie Bowl
I’m a big time green smoothie lover and recently I’ve been doing some experimenting with new ingredients. About a month ago I ordered a few specialty health food items that are a little bit difficult to find around where I live. One of those items was a package of spirullina. I had come across it in a few recipes before and always opted to swap it out for something that was easier to find and ,let’s face it, cheaper. For those of you that are not familiar with spirulina, it’s an algae that is dried and ground into a powder. It’s become pretty popular as of late due to its many health benefits. For example, spirulina is about 50% protein per gram making it a good food item for vegans and vegetarians alike. It also is very high in iron, another important mineral that many non-meateaters are lacking in. Needless to say, the stuff is super healthy and I thought why not give it a try?
I was super pumped when my package arrived, but when I opened the package of spirullin, I could not believe the smell! I don’t know what exactly I was expecting it to smell like considering that it is essentially ground up dried seaweed. My first thought was that I had wasted my money on something that I could not possibly enjoy eating. I decided to give it a try and see what happened. I started by adding a 1/4 teaspoon to my green smoothie, expecting the worst. to my pleasant surprise the flavour of my smoothie wasn’t affected at all, win! Since that time I’ve been slowly building up my spirulina intake. Honestly though, you really don’t need too much all at once since it is quite the power house in terms of its nutritional value. This is a perfect example of how a little bit can go a long way. Moral of the story, when consumed in moderation spirulina will not in fact ruin the taste of your food, but will add a seriously awesome nutritious kick to it!
I whizzed up this concoction before heading out to work this morning and I liked it quite a lot, so I figured I would share it (plus the photos turned out to be too nice not to share).
xx
Ashley
Ingredients
The Smoothie
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 large handful spinach
- 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
- 1 tablespoon protein powder optional
- 1 teaspoon maca powder
- 1/2 teaspoon spirulina powder
- 1 tablespoon nut butter
- 3/4 cup almond milk
Optional Toppings
- chia seeds
- bee pollen
- fresh fruit
- coconut chips
- cacao nibs
- granola
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth and thick. You can add a little extra almond milk to help things get moving if needed.
- Transfer the smoothie to a bowl and top with whatever your heart desires.
[…] Loaded Spirulina Smoothie Bowl […]