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.
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
Ingredients
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
Lemon Berry Smoothie Bowl {with Kefir}
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
- 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!
| 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% |