A Smoothie Bowl a day keeps the doctor away! My Go-To recipes you can make in under 5 minutes

Since being in lockdown, I have tried to experiment with my food a bit more. I was getting bored of my staple porridge with banana breakfast and decided to give smoothie bowls a go. It has been two weeks now and I am hooked.

I tried my first smoothie bowl about a year ago and instantly fell in love with them. Although it was quite overpriced (as you will often find when you get a smoothie bowl at a restaurant), I loved the idea and saw it as the perfect breakfast – healthy, filling, delicious and easy to make. They are the perfect breakfast for when you are in a rush but need something nutritious and substantial – they will also keep you full for longer than you expect.

I don’t tend to stick to a recipe when making smoothie bowls, I just throw in whatever I fancy. There’s no need to measure or weigh out your ingredients and that’s the fun of it.

I am by no means a nutritionist, or even close to one, but what I do know is that smoothies are great at preventing dehydration (they replenish the water in your body), they help to control cravings (the sweetness along with the nutrients will often keep your cravings at bay) and they are also great for digestion (it is suggested that consuming liquid food is better for digestion as this makes it easier for the body to break down).

The good part is - there is no right or wrong when it comes to making smoothie bowls. You can literally throw in whatever you want and top with whatever you fancy.

First things first, frozen fruit is a must for smoothies. Obviously you can use fresh fruit, but it is so much cheaper to use frozen and it works perfectly in smoothies. All supermarkets sell frozen fruit (however there may be some current shortages due to lockdown and panic buying), with some also selling frozen smoothie mix blends. A good idea is to buy a range of frozen fruit – mango, pineapple, bananas, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries (whatever you like) – to keep in your freezer and then you can mix between flavours each time to keep things exciting.

A tip of mine for a great tasting smoothie - you don't need to add lots of different types of fruit. Although sometimes this is nice, try to avoid just throwing in every single fruit you have at home. Sometimes I just like to have two fruits, as this enables you to really taste each fruit, rather than just throwing everything together. However, if you find that you struggle to eat fruit regularly, then do throw in as much as you can to get your five-a-day in one drink!

Another thing that you can add to smoothies is spinach. I won't lie, I always used to be a bit sceptical when I saw people putting spinach in their smoothies. I thought it would take away the fruity taste and to be honest, I thought it was just TOO healthy. But I can honestly say that I was so wrong. You don’t need to put loads in, just a handful will do, but it will add so much more nutrition to your smoothie, and if paired with the right fruit, is absolutely delicious. I like pairing spinach with either mango, pineapple or banana (or all three!). Give it a try and don’t be put off by green smoothies!

Speaking of spinach, you can also add vegetables to your smoothies. I tend to avoid vegetables in mine (apart from spinach) and primarily stick to fruit, but if you often fall short when it comes to eating your daily vegetables - courgette, cauliflower, sweet potato and kale are great vegetables to add to smoothies for extra volume, fibre and added nutrition.

So you’ve got your fruit sorted, next you need some liquid in there. Again, this is completely up to you what you put in. Whether you fancy a smoothie that is juice-based or milk-based, anything goes. I prefer juice-based smoothies, so I often add orange juice, tropical juice or mango juice (whatever we have in the fridge really). Some juices tend to be quite sugary so to avoid overloading on too much sugar, I also like to add a drop of water in my smoothies. Don't add too much water because you don’t want to make the smoothie too watery, but instead of using a full cup of juice, try using half water and half juice. Another alternative is to add some ice cubes – this will add some more liquid to your smoothie and will also add to the refreshing taste.

Milk-based smoothies are also delicious. Obviously cow’s milk can be used for smoothies but I prefer to use plant-based milks such as coconut milk, almond milk, soya milk or oat milk, as they give a lot more flavour.

You can also add yoghurt to thicken your smoothie – Greek yoghurt is a personal favourite of mine. Flavoured yoghurts are also great to add to enhance the flavour - coconut yoghurt, raspberry yoghurt, honey yoghurt - you name it you can add it.

If you’ve just done some exercise and want a protein kick, or just want to add a little bit in for added flavour, protein powders are a great smoothie addition. I have the My Protein Impact Whey Protein in vanilla and it is great to add to smoothies. Also, I’ve heard that chocolate protein powder goes nicely with banana-based smoothies so that is definitely on my list of things to try.

When it comes to toppings, you can top your smoothie bowl with whatever you fancy and whatever is in your cupboards. I love bananas and raspberries so they are a staple topper of mine, along with desiccated coconut and chia seeds, and even a bit of granola if I’m extra hungry (which is 9 times out of 10!). Seeds are great for added nutrients and fibre – whether that be pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or flaxseeds. Nuts are also great – almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, walnuts – you name it, you can use it.

All you need is a few handfuls of ingredients, a blender, five minutes, and you’re good to go. My tip is to not be scared with smoothie bowls. Experiment! You don’t need to follow a recipe, just add whatever you fancy and see how it turns out. If it’s too thick, add some more juice, milk or water and it’s too thin, add some yoghurt or some more fruit.

Below are some pics of my favourite smoothie bowls that I have made. Excuse the presentation on some…some days I am too hungry to care how it looks!

Smoothie 1: Banana, cherries, spinach, orange juice, ice cubes/water

Bananas are a great staple for smoothies - they add thickness and are full of potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C. Add a handful of spinach - you've got a smoothie full of vitamins and antioxidants.

Smoothie 2: Mango, pineapple, coconut milk

For the perfect tropical smoothie, mango and pineapple are a must. Coconut milk is the perfect liquid to pair - it almost tastes like a non-alcoholic piña colada! If that wasn't enough to tempt you, mango is also great for healthy digestion and boosts immunity.

Smoothie 3: Banana, raspberries, strawberries, vanilla protein powder, orange juice, ice cubes/water

Add in a little bit of flavoured protein powder to your smoothie and the taste is instantly transformed. The vanilla goes great with bananas and berries. Berries are also said to be good for weight loss as the enzymes in them help dissolve body fat and clear up your circulatory system.

Smoothie 4: Banana, raspberries and cherries, orange juice, ice cubes/water

Cherries are definitely an under-appreciated addition for smoothies. They are perfect for extra sweetness and added nutrition.

Smoothie 5: Banana, cherries, soya milk, ice cubes/water

If you haven't tried soya milk yet, you need to! I know lots of people that are stuck in their ways with cow's milk, but soya milk has so much extra flavour and sweetness and is perfect for smoothies. Soya milk contains as much protein as cow's milk but is lower in calories than whole milk and about equal to the calories in 1 percent or 2 percent milk.

Smoothie 6: Mango, spinach, coconut milk

Mango and spinach is a great smoothie pairing. Don't be scared to only put a couple of ingredients in - often less is more.

Smoothie 7: Pineapple, kiwi, spinach, orange juice, ice cubes/water

Pineapple, kiwi and spinach is great for a fresh-tasting smoothie. The spinach works perfectly to balance out the sweetness of the pineapple and the kiwi, but still leaves you with a sweet kick!

So, if you can get your hands on the ingredients (let's hope the panic buyers haven't bought all the frozen fruit), get smoothie making!