DIY Playa Bowls

My kids’ school happens to be right next door to my favorite playa bowl spot (I’m looking at you, Shaka Bowl) and during the year, we developed a very delicious and very expensive habit of swinging by for after-school snacks. Whenever we were there, I was always amazed at what a larger variety of foods are available to my children than were to me at that age. The only time, I ever saw an avocado was in guacamole if my parents took us to a Mexican restaurant (which, being one of 6 children, was very rare). But now, I’m asking my kids if they want acai or pitaya as the base of their smoothie bowls (or as I put it, the purple or pink ice cream), and they top it with coconut shavings, almond butter and other items I never knew existed until adulthood.

We started making our own smoothie bowls at home this summer because to buy them regularly is simply too expensive and definitely too messy. At home, the kids can eat these shirtless and there is always a tub nearby. Plus, there’s nothing cuter than a pink messy face, am I right?

The ingredients we use in these smoothie bowls come mostly from the freezer and the pantry, so once you buy the ingredients, it’s pretty simple to assemble. I buy acai and pitaya packets in the freezer aisle at my local grocery store. On their own, these fruits dont have a ton of flavor, so I mix mine with a combination of frozen banana and frozen mango, which creates an ice cream-like consistency. A food processor is definitely the best tool for the job, but you can use a blender too—just add a little bit of liquid such as water, juice, or milk of choice .

The kids love assembling their own bowls. I usually place out toppings such as granola, peanut butter, various fruit, or whatever types of toppings I have in the pantry. Try adding coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, peanuts, —anything really!

DIY Playa Bowls

Makes 2 bowls

In a food processor, combine 1 packet frozen acai or pitaya (about 1/2 cup), 1 cup frozen mango chunks, and 1 sliced frozen banana. Blend until smooth. Divide into two bowls and serve with your choice of toppings.