A Hearty Fruit Salad Is What You Should Eat Instead of a Smoothie Bowl

Regardless of whether you love a smoothie bowl or

think that this tasty trend should end

Think of this as a grain bowl meets fruit salad, with enough whole grains and fresh fruit to keep you full until lunch and a punchy vinaigrette gilding the whole thing. Not only are these bowls easier to eat than a smoothie bowl, they can also be prepared in advance, making them easier to take on the go or to eat at your desk.

A hearty fruit salad is fruit salad dressed up with whole grains, fresh herbs, and a citrusy vinaigrette. Similar to a grain bowl, which is a dish built upon cooked whole grains, hearty fruit salads can use most whole grains, any fruit you have on hand, and the dressing of your choice. The idea for these hearty fruit salads came as an alternative to our morning oatmeal or smoothie, making it both rich in whole grains and fruit-dense.

• Hearty fruit salads can be made ahead: Cook your favorite whole grain on Sunday, chop up fruit, make a dressing, and you can have a hearty fruit salad every morning without pulling out the blender. And you still enjoy the same volume of fruit as you would in your smoothie.
• Hearty fruit salads are simple: No intricate garnishes to work around, but still vibrant and beautiful (aka worthy of Instagram).
• Hearty fruit salads won’t spill in your lunch bag: Smoothie bowls do not travel well, but hearty fruit salads will. Packing your dressing separately will keep the salad chewy until lunch.
• Hearty fruit salads are chewy: Most folks who love smoothie bowls cite the spoon-to-mouth action and chewiness of the garnishes as reasons to make and eat these instead of a regular smoothie. Grain-filled fruit salads are based on satisfying chewiness, and are still sweet and fruity like a smoothie.

Where do you stand?

Can We All Just Admit That Smoothie Bowls Are Big Fat Lies?