Secretly Healthy S'mores Smoothie Bowl (Gluten Free, Vegan)

When you think of cuddling with loved ones by the burning fire, holiday treats like hot cacao and s'mores may first come to mind. This Christmas, though, why not have s'mores for breakfast - in the secretly healthy form of a green smoothie?

While boasting your typical s'mores ingredients (like Enjoy Life Foods dark chocolate chips, Schar's honey grahams and marshmallows), this smoothie bowl is also packed with nutrients to keep you healthy and energized the whole holiday season. Though low in calories, carbs and sugar, zucchini offers high amounts of antioxidants, Vitamin C and B and potassium. Banana also pack a nutrition punch of Vitamin B6, manganese and fiber while chia seeds contain six times more calcium than milk and 70% more protein than soy beans. Throw a little turmeric into the mix, and your immune system will be ready to (Christmas) party!

Basically, this Secretly Healthy S'mores Smoothie bowl is the best of both worlds: creamy and crunchy, and sweet without putting you on Santa's naughty list! 

Ready to jump on your own smoothie bowl sleigh? Then start by gathering a few simple ingredients below (for one serving): 

1 small zucchini, chopped and frozen

1/2 ripe banana, chopped and frozen 

Small handful of berries (add more if you want a sweeter smoothie bowl)

Large handful of spinach (fresh or frozen. You can also use whatever other greens you have on hand)

1 tsp of chia seeds (I love the brand MammaChia)

Liberal shake of cinnamon and (optionally) turmeric 

A sprinkle of spirulina powder and nutmeg 

Enough liquid to blend (I use a mix of coconut milk and Numi Organic Tea, Amber Sun flavor) 

Like all of my other smoothie recipes, this one is as easy as layering the ingredients in your blender (for best results, put liquids and spices/chia seeds first, then fruits and veggies) and blending! I've made this in my Vitamix and my parents' Nutribullet, though a strong food processor would probably work as well. I like my smoothie bowls thick like ice cream, so I use as little liquid as possible. If you prefer a more...slurpable smoothie, just add more liquid! 

The most important topping...

Next, pour your smoothie in a bowl (bonus points for a festive container!) and place it in the freezer while you get the toppings ready. For the s'mores toppings, simply gather some chocolate chips, mini marshmallows and crumbled chunks of gluten free graham crackers (like those from Schar or Snackin' Free). If you want to keep the whole bowl vegan, remember to find vegan crackers and marshmallows as well! For an extra festive bowl, you can add goodies like:

• Strawberries cut in the shapes of hearts, trees or a snowman 
• Extra fruit like blueberries, pomegranate seeds or banana
• Trail mix or dried fruit...use goji berries for a punch of red that would make Santa proud! 
• A chocolate or maca magic shell using cacao or maca powder with a little melted coconut oil 
• Holiday treats like Christmas cookies 

If you're craving a hot/cold combo, you could even create your own s'mores, warm them up in the microwave until the chocolate melts, and then plop them right on top of your smoothie! 

As always, feel free to experiment with this recipe until you make it your own. Try adding other holiday flavors like pumpkin spice or vanilla; switching the dark chocolate for white; or even adding even more veggies like celery, parsnip, squash, or broccoli (as long as you have a high powered blender and include enough sweet fruits, you won't even taste these!).

When you think of Christmas, smoothies might not be the first food you crave...especially if you're surrounded by snow like I am! However, this smoothie bowl is proof that your diet can be naughty and nice this holiday season. Who knows. Maybe Santa will replace his milk and cookies with cookie-topped green smoothies this year! 

*Also found at What's Cookin' Wednesday, Tasty Tuesday, Allergy Free Thursdays, RunningwithSpoons, Keepin' It Real, Saucy Saturday, ShareFest, VegetarianMama!*

What's your favorite treat during the holidays? Do you ever try to "healthify" your favorite goodies? If so, how? Comment below!