The smoothie bowl is arguably one of 2018’s biggest diet trends, and an Instagram-worthy meal. A smoothie bowl’s thick and creamy texture make it a feel-good alternative to ice cream in the summer. And with limitless combinations you can customize them to fill almost all your nutritional gaps (not to mention you only have to wash one bowl).

Many recipes we’ve seen call for frozen bananas to create a base, adding additional fruits to give it flavor and color. Although fruits are full of essential vitamins, minerals and fiber they are also loaded with glucose. For those of you trying to reduce your sugar intake, manage a metabolic disease like Diabetes, or stick to a disciplined Keto lifestyle, a bowl full of sugary fruits might be off the table.

The Keto diet’s main premise is to keep your body in a state of ketosis where it breaks down fats rather than carbohydrates for weight loss, longer lasting energy and lower blood sugar. The Ketogenic diet works by increasing your healthy fat intake to around 60-70% of your daily calories, and seriously restricting carbohydrates— which ultimately break down into sugar.

Lucky Vitamin’s recent Keto-Coconut Lemon Mug Cake recipe inspired us to create a smoothie that still tastes sweet, yet is low in sugar and remains Keto-friendly. Follow these 4 steps to get started:

Step 1) Replace Your Smoothie Bowl Base

Instead of creating a smoothie base with frozen fruits, opt for these lower carb options:

• Whole fat plain yogurt
• Avocados
• Coconut milk + MCT Oil Powder
• Protein Powder + Milk + Coconut Oil

Step 2) Veggies > Fruits

Just like fruits, vegetables offer loads of nutrition and fiber, but with fewer sugars. Toss in more vegetables like spinach, collards, or cauliflower to create rich bases when mixed with coconut milk, almond milk or yogurts. When adding fruits, reach for ones with less sugar like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, or honeydew melon.

Step 3) Choose Your Smoothie Bowl Toppings

Add in toppings high in fat to keep you feeling full and energized, without the sugary crash. These low-carb ingredients make great additions to any smoothie bowl:

• Hemp, Chia, or Pumpkin Seeds
• Brazil Nuts, Almonds, Hazelnuts, Cashews, Pecans, or Pili Nuts
• Coconut Shreds or Flakes
• Almond Butter, Sunflower Seed Butter, or Peanut Butter
• Matcha Powder, MCT Oil Powder, Spirulina, or Hemp Protein Powder

Step 4) Keep it “Sweet”

Even with our goal being to reduce sugar intake, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice any sweetness. Adding a few drops of stevia glycerite or a couple of teaspoons of erythritol will add the desired sweetness you crave. These sweeteners are potent, so we recommend only adding small amounts at a time until you achieve your desired sweetness level. Then add a dollop of heavy whipped cream or coconut cream for a little extra yum.

For more resources on how the Ketogenic Diet check out Lucky Vitamin’s “How to Eat Keto When You’re Vegan” and the Perfect Keto’s complete Food List