Frutta Bowls

There is nothing more refreshing on a hot, sunny day than a bowl full of cool, fruity deliciousness.  Frutta Bowls is without a doubt my favorite spot to go in Nashville to satisfy this craving.  Frutta Bowls offers a wider selection of menu options than any other smoothie bar I have visited.  They have toast served with a variety of both sweet and savory toppings, hot oatmeal bowls with various add-ins, organic coffee, smoothies of all sorts, and smoothie bowls with a selection of bases including açaí, pitaya, and kale, and an endless amount of yummy toppings.

The first time I went, I was overwhelmed by the menu and had no idea what to get. I was quickly offered samples of each of the smoothie bases so I could decide what I liked best.  I have had plenty of açaí bowls at other places, so I wasn’t surprised that I liked the dark purple açaí base which is made using organic açaí (a berry similar to blueberries and blackberries) and banana.  I was intrigued by the bright pink pitaya base because I had no idea what pitaya even was.  Turns out, it is just another word for dragon fruit.  This base combines pitaya with banana, pineapple, and almond milk and tastes a little sweeter than the açaí base.  I was skeptical of the green kale base because I expected it to taste like salad, but I was very wrong.  The combination of banana, pineapple, and almond milk completely disguised the kale in the base, and it was actually the sweetest of all!

I have now been to Frutta Bowls multiple times.  I always try to make myself get something different, but I have trouble deviating from my favorite order.  In my humble option, the “Frutta Bowl,” is perfect because it has a little bit of everything.  It is a smoothie bowl that consists of the açaí base topped with granola, strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, honey, coconut flakes, and my favorite additions, peanut butter and nutella (which are hidden under the fruit in the picture above).  It is nutrient-dense but tastes like dessert.  You would have to be crazy to not like it.

Something I really like about Frutta Bowls is how they allow their customers to change up menu items to create their own combinations.  I like to switch out the açaí base for pitaya in the Frutta Bowl.  For someone who does not like certain toppings, the flexibility of the menu at Frutta Bowls allows you to create your own dream concoction of flavors.  For those trying to build muscle, there is even an option to add whey protein, and some menu items such as the “Muscle Up Bowl” or “Chocolate Explosion” smoothie already have it included.

Really, the only downside to Frutta Bowls is the cost, but honestly it’s probably a good thing the menu is a little pricey because otherwise I might go every day.  Typical bowls range from $10-12.  However, they are pretty large and justify the amount of food I would consider enough for breakfast or lunch.  Plus, if you think about how much it would cost to purchase all of the individual ingredients to make a bowl like this yourself, I don’t think it’s a bad deal.  So, the next time you are in need of something that will satisfy your sweet tooth but is also nutrient-dense, head on over to Frutta Bowls and grab yourself to a fresh and guilt-free treat!