At Spoon, we know you’re all for upping your Insta game. So why not get an easy, feel-good and satisfying breakfast while you’re at it? With spring finally arriving, it’s time to do away with the classic winter oatmeal and replace it with a refreshing smoothie bowl to satisfy your breakfast (and insta) needs.

If you don’t have a blender, there are plenty of smoothie and açaí bowl options near campus. A smoothie bowl is essentially a smoothie that is thick enough to eat with a spoon and has the creamy texture of ice cream, while an açaí bowl is a particular type of smoothie bowl with frozen açaí (a type of berry grown in Central and South America that is rich in antioxidants, minerals, healthy fats, and vitamins).

Liquiteria

Located on Union Square East, Liquiteria is the perfect pit stop on the way to or from campus. I personally think they win at the NYC smoothie game and their mean green açaí bowl is consistently delicious.

Organic Avenue Located right on Bleecker and Lafayette, Organic Avenue is one of the closer options to campus. For a super green instant pick me up, try the Titan Smoothie Bowl, made with spinach, coconut milk, bananas, brown rice protein and mango. For a fruitier option, choose The Symphony Smoothie bowl, made with a blend of berries and cashew hemp milk.

Juice Generation

With locations in Soho and the West Village, Juice Generation is just a short walk from campus. Do yourself a favor and try one of their peanut butter açaí bowls: it’s heaven in a mouthful and tastes like a decadent dessert. You absolutely neeeed to try this bowl.

If you happen to have a blender and five minutes to spare, try this deliciously satisfying DIY recipe.

smoothie bowl

Photo by Sristi Pradhan

Prep Time: 4 minutes
Blend Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:
2 cups raw baby spinach
1 cup almond milk, chilled
1 medium banana
Handful of ice
1 tablespoon peanut butter (optional)
2 teaspoons flax seeds (optional)

Directions:
1.  Put all ingredients into a blender.
2.  Blend all ingredients well. The mixture should be thick like frozen soft serve ice cream. Add more milk or spinach as needed.
3.  The toppings are a free for all. Get creative and garnish with anything your heart desires, such as fresh berries, nuts, or shredded coconut.
4.  Enjoy!