Lemon Berry Smoothie Bowl with Kefir {High Protein}

A very refreshing and nutritious mixed berry smoothie bowl made with kefir to increase that good bacteria in your gut! Kefir is a fermented food with live, active cultures and resembles a drinkable yogurt. This recipe is EASY and packed with protein, fiber, iron and calcium.

A lemon berry smoothie bowl with kefir on a yellow and white stripe towel.

I used Lifeway Mixed Berry Kefir which contains 12 different strains of probiotics. If you haven’t tried kefir yet, it’s delicious and adds a lot of flavor to this smoothie bowl.

This thick and creamy smoothie bowl is topped with mixed berries, chopped nuts and a drizzle of honey. It’s creamy and sweet, yet tangy and refreshing from the lemon juice. Easily customizable with various toppings! {Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Friendly}

Reasons to Try This Smoothie Bowl

  • It’s actually very filling. With traditional smoothies, all the ingredients are broken down already and digested quickly. With a smoothie bowl, the additional toppings like chopped nuts and fresh fruit will give you the same nutrient content but keep you fuller for longer. This recipe has 16g fiber and over 30g of protein to assist with meal satiation and help you reach a higher overall protein and fiber intake.
  • To improve your gut microbiome. Kefir is one of best and ONLY probiotic food sources. Plus, this recipe contains prebiotics which act as food for the good bacteria from the probiotics. A healthy balance of both probiotics and prebiotics help to create a more diverse microbiome – which has numerous health benefits (like immune support, not just digestive health).
  • A quick and easy breakfast packed with nutrition! This lemon and mixed berry smoothie bowl can be assembled in just 5 minutes. Even the busiest of moms can throw this together on a hectic day.

Ingredients

Smoothie bowl ingredients and a blender on a counter.

For the Smoothie:

Lifeway Mixed Berry Kefir (4-6 ounces)

There’s just something about this dairy kefir – it’s rich, creamy and just so good. Plus, it contains 12 probiotic cultures which is significantly more than yogurt. Sub with any kind of kefir or make your own. It states it is 99% lactose-free so may be suitable for those with lactose intolerance.

Lemon (Juice of 1/2 lemon or more)

The tangy and acidic lemon complements the berries well, and it’s what makes this smoothie bowl so refreshing. Feel free to add more!

Vanilla Protein Powder, Optional (1 scoop)

Sub with unflavored for the best results. Make sure you love the taste of the protein powder! I use Dymatize Whey Protein Isolate (vanilla flavored) and I really like it. I also recommend a protein powder that is third-party tested to ensure the ingredients listed are actually what is in the product.

Frozen Berries (1 cup)

The key to a thick smoothie bowl will depend on how much frozen fruit is used as well as the ice cubes. For a thicker bowl, increase the frozen fruit to 1 1/2 cups. I used both blueberries and strawberries.

Ice Cubes (about 4-5)

Instead of more frozen fruit (since I added additional fruit on top), I used ice cubes to make the smoothie mixture thicker. Add more ice cubes if you feel like it’s not thick enough.

Chia Seeds, Optional (1-2 tablespoons)

Add some chia seeds for extra fiber! It’s such a simple way to increase fiber intake – most people are not getting near enough fiber daily. If you are not used to consuming a lot of fiber, start with one tablespoon (or less) – it’s best to start low and go slow. Otherwise, you might feel some digestive symptoms like bloating, constipation, and gas.

A smoothie bowl topped with walnuts, strawberries and blueberries on a table next to a bowl of berries.

Smoothie Bowl Toppings:

Fresh Berries

Top your smoothie bowl with fresh berries or whatever fruit you like. You an also use frozen fruit, thawed.

Chopped Nuts

The chopped walnuts added some crunch and texture as well as additional protein, healthy fat, fiber and antioxidants.

Honey, Optional

Just a drizzle of honey takes this smoothie bowl to the next level.

Other Ideas

Some fun additional toppings could be shredded coconut for more texture and flavor. A drizzle of Nutella. You could also incorporate cocoa powder into the smoothie bowl mixture for a chocolate berry combination. Granola is a delicious addition for a smoothie bowl for some added crunch.

A fully assemble lemon berry smoothie bowl with kefir.

Smoothie Bowl with Kefir Instructions

Highly recommend a high power blender for the best results. If using a Nutri-bullet or smaller blender, make sure to use the largest cup option available. You may need to stop and use a spoon to mix, then blend again for the smoothest consistency.

This recipe makes 1 serving but can be easily doubled to make two! I had an 8 ounce Lifeway Kefir and just kept the rest to make another smoothie bowl the next day.

Add Ingredients to a Blender

Ingredients for the lemon berry smoothie bowl with kefir in a blender on a counter.

Add kefir, the juice of 1/2 a lemon, chia seeds, protein powder, ice cubes, and frozen berries to a blender. Blend on low, give it a stir, and then blend again. If the mixture seems too thick, add a little more kefir.

Check the consistency – it should be thick and like soft-serve. Feel free to add more ice cubes or frozen fruit for a thicker bowl!

Assemble the Bowl

The smoothie bowl puree in a white bowl.

Pour the blended smoothie into a bowl. Top with fresh blueberries, raspberries, and/or strawberries as well as chopped nuts. Drizzle some honey over the top and enjoy! This smoothie bowl is best consumed immediately.

A lemon berry smoothie bowl with kefir on a colorful lemon towel next to a bowl of strawberries and a bottle of kefir on a counter.

Tips for Success

  • When increasing fiber intake, it’s best to start low and go slow. Gradually add more fiber into your diet over a few weeks and get all the benefits without the undesired side effects! Also, make sure to drink a lot of water.
  • Because this smoothie bowl uses more liquid than the average smoothie bowl to incorporate the kefir, you may need to add more frozen fruit (and it is a very large portion size). This recipe is extremely nutritionally balanced, minus being a little higher in sugar, so adding a little fruit will just provide more nutrients!
  • Adjust the sweetness based on your preferences. Depending on the protein powder used, you might not even want to add honey.
  • If you don’t have protein powder (or don’t like it), top the smoothie bowl with hemp hearts and/or peanut butter for extra protein!

For more recipes with probiotics, make sure to try:

Lemon Berry Overnight Oats with Kefir
Peach Pineapple Kefir Smoothie
Light & Refreshing Kombucha Mocktails

A lemon berry smoothie bowl with kefir on a yellow and white stripe towel.

Lemon Berry Smoothie Bowl {with Kefir}

Alex Evink, MS, RD
A refreshing and extremely nutritious smoothie bowl with the delicious flavors of lemon and mixed berries. The chopped walnuts add delicious crunch and texture. Kefir contains significantly more live, active cultures than yogurt and helps to increase the diversity of our gut microbiome. With 16g fiber and over 30g of protein, this smoothie bowl will keep you full and help you reach a higher overall protein and fiber intake. {Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Friendly}
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 1 serving
Calories 425 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4-6 ounces Lifeway Mixed Berry Kefir (or preferred kefir)
  • 1 cup frozen mixed berries (I used blueberries and strawberries).
  • 5 ice cubes (add more for a thicker smoothie bowl)
  • 1 scoop vanilla or unflavored protein powder
  • Juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • 1-2 tablespoons chia seeds, optional

Toppings

  • Fresh blueberries, raspberries and/or strawberries
  • Chopped walnuts
  • Drizzle of honey
  • Nutella
  • Shredded coconut

Instructions
 

  • Add kefir, the juice of 1/2 a lemon, chia seeds, protein powder, ice cubes, and frozen berries to a blender. Blend on low, give it a stir, and then blend again. If the mixture seems too thick, add a little more kefir.
  • Check the consistency – it should be thick and like soft-serve. Feel free to add more ice cubes or frozen fruit for a thicker bowl!
  • Pour the blended smoothie into a bowl. Use a spatula to scrape the sides of the blender. Top with fresh blueberries, raspberries, and/or strawberries as well as chopped nuts. Drizzle some honey over the top and enjoy! This smoothie bowl is best consumed immediately.

Notes

Tips for Success:
  • Because this smoothie bowl uses more liquid than the average smoothie bowl to incorporate the kefir, you may need to add more frozen fruit (and it is a very large portion size). This recipe is extremely nutritionally balanced, minus being a little higher in sugar, so adding a little fruit will just provide more nutrients!
  • When increasing fiber intake, it’s best to start low and go slow. Gradually add more fiber into your diet over a few weeks and get all the benefits without the undesired side effects! Also, make sure to drink a lot of water.
  • Adjust the sweetness based on your preferences. Depending on the protein powder used, you might not even want to add honey.
  • If you don’t have protein powder (or don’t like it), top the smoothie bowl with hemp hearts and/or peanut butter for extra protein!
Nutritional information is just an estimation and individual ingredients and preparation may lead to slight discrepancies. Protein content will vary depending on protein powder used.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving  
Calories 425
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12.4g 16%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 15mg 5%
Sodium 124mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 40g 16%
Dietary Fiber 16.2g 58%
Total Sugars 19g  
Protein 38.8g  
Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
Calcium 741mg 57%
Iron 4mg 24%
Potassium 318mg 7%
Keyword 5-minute breakfast, healthy high protein and fiber breakfast, protein smoothie bowl

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