Bowls have become 2018’s most popular food. Grain bowls, smoothie bowls, Buddha bowls, poke bowls – we are putting everything in a bowl and topping it with colorful ingredients. Not only are they beautiful and fun to eat, but they are easy to make a great way to use up leftovers and make the kids happy. Win-Win! Plus, the “bowl” can be carried into every season, making the most of the season’s offerings.
In fall, you want to transition from “cold bowls” made with lettuces or summer fruit smoothies, and into warmer bowls with grains, root vegetables and warming spices. Incorporating more warming foods into your diet as the weather gets colder helps your body acclimate to the season and maintain balance.
I love starting the day with a breakfast bowl. You can let your imagination run wild in creating your breakfast bowl, but I love these healthy options that include fall superfoods:
Smoothie Bowl with Pumpkin
Smoothie bowls are popular year-round, but you want to switch up the ingredients with each season. It may seem weird having a smoothie with pumpkin, but pumpkin is the perfect texture and has just enough sweetness to make this a filling and healthy breakfast bowl. The trick here is to add banana to the smoothie bowl along with your pumpkin puree to sweeten it up. You can then add your favorite dairy-free milk like almond or cashew, along with your choice of fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice or ginger. Remember with spices a little bit goes a long way. For toppings, try chia seeds, ground flax seed, honey toasted walnuts and/or a touch of organic vanilla yogurt.
Apple Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
This is another breakfast bowl that uses one of fall’s most wonderful superfoods – the apple! Mixed with warm quinoa, this bowl provides a healthy dose of protein and fiber to keep you satiated throughout the morning. Quinoa is a sweet grain and when combined with sliced apples, apple pie spice, applesauce, and some almond milk (or milk of your choice), it makes it the perfect breakfast! I like to use leftover quinoa and heat all the ingredients in a pot until warm. You can make it even sweeter with some pure maple syrup drizzled on top.
Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl
Sweet potatoes are such a rich source of nutrients like Vitamins A, E and K, along with iron and calcium, you just must give this bowl a try. Using a leftover baked sweet potato, scoop out the flesh and put it in a pot with some almond milk (or milk of your choice), cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice and a spoonful of applesauce. Warm it gently, then put in a bowl and top with toasted pumpkin seeds, freshly sliced avocado, and chia seeds. YUM!
Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal
This is often a fan favorite, so you should give it a try. You can transform your morning oatmeal into a fall spiced delight and make it taste just like pumpkin pie. Simply make oatmeal from rolled or steel cut oats, then add in pumpkin puree, a milk of your choice, pump pie spice, and a touch of maple syrup (or a natural sweetener of your choice). My kids love this oatmeal with a bit of almond butter mixed in as well.
There you have it. Seasonal flavors for the popular “bowl” craze. Leave a comment below and let me know what you are putting your bowl!
These sound nutritious, delicious and filling! I’ve been looking for ways to incorporate quinoa in a breakfast bowl. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much! The Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal sounds great! I will definitely make it. Oh! I have to make the Sweet Potato one too. What a great way to use a leftover sweet potato!