Purple Potato Smoothie Bowl

This purple potato smoothie bowl is a great way to get some healthy carbohydrates into your day. I know that many mama’s think that all potatoes are off plan for the popular Trim Healthy Mama plan. Believe it or not that is not true. While white potatoes are not recommend, these purple potatoes can be enjoyed occasionally.

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Personally, I buy baby purple potatoes and yukon gold potatoes for my tater loving husband. He enjoys them much more frequently than I do and it helps to keep the peace in our home.

I normally limit my potato consumption to holiday meal times with our family only because they can mess with my blood sugar more easily than things like turnips and radishes.

 Most of the time I steam or roast our vegetables so that they can be used in multiple meals because cooking for two can be a challenge when it comes to portion sizes.

Why Purple Potatoes?

I like being able to tell which veggies are which in my meals, weird right? So by using purple potatoes I can easily distinguish them and make the choice of including or excluding them from my plate.

Purple potatoes also keep their color when they are prepared, unlike some other vegetables. So if you decide to mash them don’t be surprised when you get a bowl of deep purple mash. It could be quite the conversation starter with friends and family though.

The Health Benefits of Purple Vegetables

When we hear talk of eating healthy, one of the most common phrases is to “Eat the Rainbow” on your plate. Finding fruits and vegetables that are purple in color can be a bit tricky. Most of the time when they are cooked they change to this really weird shade of grey that can be pretty unappetizing to look at. Not true of purple potatoes!

Vegetables that are a deep purple like these purple potatoes contain more antioxidants than their cousins that are a bit less vibrant. 

Purple potatoes have four times as many antioxidants as Russet potatoes, due to the anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins, are the antioxidant that gives purple fruits and vegetables their vibrant color. They also protect the fruit or vegetable from environmental stressors and damage.

Did you know that the vibrant shades of purple also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies?

Consuming fruits and vegetables that contain anthocyanins can also help to protect and heal your cells from damage.

Most Notable Benefits of Anthocyanins

• Anti Inflammatory ~ They have shown to be consistent in reducing chronic inflammation.
• Heart Healthy ~ A 2012 study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that consuming high amounts of anthocyanins helps to reduce cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and artery stiffness.
• Anti Cancer ~ A 2013 study published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research suggests that purple sweet potato may protect against colorectal cancer — the third most common cancer.
• Good For Your Brain ~ A 2003 study published in the Archives of Pharmacal Research showed the memory-enhancing effects of eating purple sweet potatoes. Other research points to the ability of anthocyanins to help prevent age-related decline in the nervous system. And anthocyanins are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and localize inside brain regions involved in learning and memory.

Now that you know a bit more about purple vegetables and fruits let’s get back to the purple potato smoothie bowl!

Purple Potato Adds Creaminess

I know that many times smoothie bowls, shakes and smoothies can get a bit “icy” vs creamy especially without the addition of banana or dairy. The addition of purple potato helps to add the creamy mouth feel that would be lacking without the dairy.

I did use dairy in this recipe the first time I made it and also have it listed in the recipe card. However, you can omit the cottage cheese if needed. It will lower the protein by 12g, the fat by 2g and the carbs by 6g. Which means this still comes in for a solid E on Trim Healthy Mama.

The Tools I Used

I love using my air fryer oven to roast my purple potatoes. I don’t have to add any fat and they always come out roasted to perfection at 400 degrees for about 15 -20 minutes.


 

You could also steam them in your Instant Pot for 4 min high pressure with 1 cup of water.

I adore my Facebook Marketplace find Vitamix 5200, which believe it or not only cost me $75!!

Rick got me this Vitamix 32 oz container for christmas with the mini tamper which is going to be perfect in the camper.

 

You may want to check out these other Shakes & Smoothies to Find Your Healthy Trim.

Purple Potato Smoothie Bowl Recipe