Almond Toffee Crunch Smoothie Bowl

Ahh… it feels so good to be settling back into a normal routine. The summer is my busiest time of year for my full time work, not to mention wanting to have a little summer fun in the sun, makes for a super busy time of year!

This summer was especially busy, as I was out of town (for both work and play) for a total of over a month! But with a new school year, brings an opportunity to settle down a bit, but mostly to get back to a more organized routine. Uhh… I love routines, and organization, and schedules!

Despite my busy summer, one thing that I started incorporating back into my “normal” routine was exercising. And let me tell you, it was the best thing ever! I used to be consistent about my workout schedule, but the last few years, as I took on more life responsibilities and transitioned into a freelance contractor, I struggled to find balance and make time for regular exercise.

But the past few months, as I have tried new things (who knew I would love barre so much!!) and made a point of exercising at least 3-4 times a week, has left me feeling renewed, energized, and overall just feeling great!

In addition to exercising regularly, I have been making a conscious effort to eat better and eat small little meals throughout the day, to help me from getting hangry or over eating when I do sit down to a meal. This is especially important in the mornings or after I workout. Fruit, yogurt, smoothies and protein bars are my favorite breakfast and post workout snack options because they are quick and easy.

That is why I was happy to discover these new high protein, gluten free ZonePerfect Perfectly Simple nutrition bars. They come in four flavors, like Almond Toffee Crunch, Bing Cherry and Almond, Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk and Roasted Cashew and Dark Chocolate, and use real ingredients that you can actually see in the bar. These bars are super convenient to grab and take with me when I am headed out the door for a busy day or when I head to my favorite workout class.

In addition to nutrition bars and fruit, I recently discovered smoothie bowls. These smoothie bowls are becoming quite the thing and I love them! They are a thick and creamy smoothie (my favorite) topped with, well whatever you want… fresh fruit, coconut flakes, nuts, granola or often for me, chopped up nutrition bars for added flavor, protein and crunch! My latest smoothie bowl flavor combination was inspired by the ZonePerfect Perfectly Simple Almond Toffee Crunch nutrition bar. A cold and creamy smoothie, made with frozen bananas, almond butter (another one of my favorite things), almond milk and pure maple syrup and then topped with all sorts of delicious, crunchy things!

Almond Toffee Crunch Smoothie Bowl
by Heather H. of Kitchen Concoctions: www.kitchen-concoctions.com
Printable Version
Prep Time: 5 minutes Serves: 2

Ingredients:
Smoothie Bowl:
1 large banana, sliced and frozen
2 tablespoons almond butter
½ tablespoon pure maple syrup
1/3-½ cup almond milk

Topping:
½ large banana, sliced
1 tablespoon coconut flakes
1 tablespoon raw almonds
1 ZonePerfect Perfectly Simple Almond Toffee Crunch nutrition bar, diced

Directions:
Combine all smoothie ingredients in a blender. Blend on high until smooth and creamy, adding additional milk to reach desired consistency. Pour into a large bowl and top with desired toppings. Serve immediately.

Looking for a quick breakfast or post workout snack, check out ZonePerfect Perfectly Simple nutrition bars, made with simple ingredients that taste good and make you feel gooder! Don’t forget to check out this special offer to help you save big on your next box!