Sweet Potato Berry Peanut Smoothie Bowl [Gluten Free]

A smoothie that tastes decadent but is full of superfoods. This sweet potato berry peanut smoothie bowl is the perfect balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat for a post-workout meal or a satisfying breakfast! Smoothies I love. But I am a major texture person, so when I discovered smoothie bowls- it was a game changer. This sweet potato berry peanut smoothie bowl is a texture lover's dream- the creamy smoothie (thanks to the sweet potato), gooey peanut butter, crunchy cacao nibs and cereal....YUM, I am getting hungry just thinking about it!

Smoothie bowls are my FAVORITE post workout meal. First of all, I do not want something hot after being hot and sweaty at the gym. Nothankyou. I prefer a cold smoothie with all the crunchy toppings. I also love the nutrient breakdown of a smoothie bowl. It is filled with protein which is perfect to help those muscle gainzzzz, but also full of carbohydrates to help replenish glycogen stores and help support the protein in building muscle. See more here about why you need more protein and carbohydrates in your diet to support muscle gains.

I like that this sweet potato berry peanut smoothie bowl is made with fruit and topped with cereal (or granola), containing simple carbohydrates that are a preferred choice after working out, but also contains lots of fiber from the spinach, fruit and sweet potato, to keep me full and energized all morning long.

I know sweet potato in a smoothie sounds SO weird, but it makes it creamy just like a banana would! Don't get me wrong, I love a banana in my smoothie, but it is nice to change it up from time to time, and the flavor of the sweet potato in a smoothie is divine. I also love this with banana instead of berries, kind of taste like sweet potato pie!

The trick to making a perfect smoothie bowl is having all the ingredients frozen (including the spinach, sweet potato and fruit) and using as little liquid as possible. You may have to stop the blender and help the process along, but I promise it is worth it!

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Sweet Potato Berry Peanut Smoothie Bowl [Gluten Free]

Ingredients

• 1 cup frozen spinach

• 1 cup frozen berries (I used a mixture of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries)

• 1/3 cup roasted sweet potato (approximately 1/3 of a large or 1/2 small to medium sweet potato)

• 1 scoop protein powder or collagen peptides

• 1-2 Tablespoon peanut butter

• 1/2-1 cup of milk of choice (I used unsweetened almond milk)

• Toppings: cereal or granola (use gluten free if needed), cacao nibs, peanut butter

• Optional add ins: kefir or yogurt, maca, cinnamon, vanilla extract

Instructions

1. First roast sweet potato. Preheat oven to 450 degrees and roast for 1-1 1/2 hours. Let cool and then portion out desired amount into a freezer bag or plastic wrap and place in the freezer.*

2. Add all ingredients in a blender and blend until desired consistency is reached. The idea with a smoothie bowl is to add as little liquid as possible, as it will make it more of an "ice cream" consistency. Start with just 1/2 cup and add more if needed. You may need to scrape the sides a couple times while blending to help combine.

3. Once reach your desired consistency, pour smoothie into a bowl and top with toppings of choice!

Notes

*I usually roast the sweet potato ahead of time, as part of my weekly food prep[br]I usually put all ingredients together in a freezer bag (including everything except for liquid) the night before to help make things quicker.[br]Optional add-ins are items I often add to a smoothie to boost the nutrition and/or flavor, not required.

Your turn:

Have you tried a smoothie in "smoothie bowl" form yet?

Does putting a sweet potato in your smoothie sound weird or amazing to you?

If you guys try this- show me your creations! Tag me at @the_diehard_foodie and use the hashtags #nourishyoself and #diehaRDfoodiefinds.

Nourish yo'self,

Victoria