dark chocolate cherry bowl.

dietary: dairy-free, gluten-free, keto, vegan, vegetarian.

prep time: 5 minutes.

cooking time: 3 minutes.

This is probably one of my favourite smoothie bowls. I’m not even lowkey addicted to cacao, it’s a full-blown obsession. And, is there really anything better than dark chocolate and cherry?! (unless paired with a little bit of Brandy).

Smoothie bowls are so simple and easy to make, and perfect for these beautifully hot summer days. Also (luckily for me) cacao has loads of incredible health benefits. Gram for gram cacao has the highest concentration of polyphenols and flavonoids than any other food (1). These are 2 incredible compounds that help protect our cells from what’s called “oxidative stress” which can lead to diseases such as cancer, diabetes and even Alzheimers (2). So, basically, cacao is anti-inflammatory, full of antioxidants (if you’re looking for a proper detox, just add some more cacao to your diet) and it feeds your good microbes (which affects your mental health, metabolism and so much more)(1).

So, next time you’re craving some chocolate, just whip up a smoothie bowl. Satisfy your cravings and know that you’re also doing your body some good.

I like to add collagen to my smoothie bowls as it helps to heal our digestive tract. Additives, sugar and processed foods are a daily addition to western eating habits. We’re only supposed to eat 24 grams of sugar a day, or 36 grams if you’re a man (4). The average is over 90 grams in the UK and 126g in the US. This is because sugar is in everything. Almost all packaged foods contain sugar, whether they’re from a health food store or not. Sugar and processed foods damage our digestive tract which causes food intolerances, allergies, and other serious illnesses down the line (read more here). So, just adding a bit of collagen to your breakfast or hot drink is an easy way to heal our bodies from the inside, which can protect us from many illnesses and intolerances further down the line.

one thing I would add: get your fruit in season and from a greengrocer. It’s cheaper, tastes better and you’re not only doing the environment some good, but you’re giving money to an independent business. Better for the people, the planet and your pocket.

ingredients:

1/4 cup of cherries

1/2 unripe banana (less ripe = less sugar, preferably frozen)

1 tablespoon of cacao

1 tablespoon of flaxseed

1 tablespoon collagen

1 tablespoon hemp seeds

1 tablespoon almond butter

1/2 vanilla pod

1/4 avocado

1 cup hazelnut milk

a handful of spinach

a pinch of good quality salt (Himalayan or sea salt)

toppings:

cherries

cacao nibs

coconut flakes

chopped hazelnut

This is super easy: whack all of your ingredients into a blender for 2-3 minutes (would recommend a Nutribullet. They cost a bit, but are probably the cheapest and best blenders out there).

Plop your chocolatey goo into a lovely-looking bowl and delicately decorate with the toppings suggested (or just chuck on your own toppings).

ENJOY. And feel smug knowing that you don’t have to jeopardise taste for health.

1. Spector, T. (2015) The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind What We Eat, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson (accessed 25 August 2022)

2. Forman, H.J., and Zhang, H. (2021). ‘Targeting Oxidative Stress in Disease: Promise and Limitations of Antioxidant Therapy’, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 20: 689-709 (accessed 25 August 2022).

3. WorldAtlas (2016). Countries that Eat the Most Sugar (accessed 25 August 2022)

4. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston, H.A. and Ma (2013) The Nutrition Source: Added Sugar (accessed 25 August 2022).