My Honest Pitaya Foods Smoothie Bowl Review

I love smoothies, but I've never been a fan of starting from scratch. I've always preferred the pre-portioned kits because they come with ingredients that I don't have lying around the house, such as dragon fruit and blue spirulina.

On a trip to Walmart, I stumbled on Pitaya Foods smoothie bowls in the freezer section. I usually prefer drinks over the bowls, but the flavors looked intriguing, so I thought--why not? I took all five varieties home and decided to write this review to help you choose.

For the record, this is NOT a paid promotion. These are my honest, unfiltered thoughts about Pitaya Foods smoothie bowls.

Ready? Let's dig in!

1. Protein (Chocolate, Banana, Sunflower Butter)

When I took the Protein bowl out of the freezer, I thought it'd be too solid to eat, but the texture was soft enough that I could dig in right away. This bowl was rich, thick and creamy with a strong chocolate aroma and cocoa-and-banana flavor. The sunflower butter added a slight tanginess, while the granola was hard and crunchy.

However, despite the "healthy" marketing, the Protein bowl is loaded with sugar. In fact, cane sugar is the second ingredient in both the base and the topping. You'll also get 32% of your daily serving of fiber, so it's not a total loss, but this is more of a dessert than a post-workout snack.

2. Inner Health (Dragon Fruit, Pineapple, Mango)

I loved the Inner Health bowl's bright pink hue. The bold color matched the flavor, too: each bite was like a tropical fruit explosion. I'd never tried dragon fruit before, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but the base flavor was sharp and sweet. The pineapple added a hint of tartness that complemented the mango's refreshing taste.

While the Protein bowl tasted like pure sugar at times, Inner Health is sweet but not too cloying. The granola balances the exotic flavors with a crunchy texture and subtle earthiness. Overall, this was one of my favorites. Plus, it only contains 6% of your daily serving of sugar, making it one of Pitaya Foods' healthier options.

3. Clarity (Coconut, Pineapple, Blue Spirulina)

The Clarity bowl was my introduction to blue spirulina. A cheerful blue shade greeted me when I removed the bowl from the box, but despite the appearance, creamy coconut was actually the dominant flavor. A slight earthiness and pineapple aftertaste lingered in the background.

With 30% of your daily serving in a single bowl, you're looking at another sugar bomb. Still, you'll also get lots of fiber and vitamin C. The ingredients include vanilla extract, blueberry juice concentrate and freeze-dried acerola juice (apparently, that's a type of cherry), which probably contribute to the sweet, fruity taste.

4. Immunity (Passion Fruit, Mango, Pineapple)

The Immunity bowl delighted my senses with a beaming yellow hue. Pineapple was the dominant flavor, with mango adding a mild undertone. I'm not a huge pineapple fan, so this bowl was my least favorite, but the granola helped ease the fruit's acidic bite.

On the bright side, Immunity contains only 12% of your daily sugar serving. You'll also get 36% of your daily serving of fiber and a dose of vitamin C, calcium, iron and potassium. If you're a pineapple lover, you'll probably devour this bowl.

5. Energy (Acai, Blueberry, Banana)

Acai and blueberry were the standout flavors in the Energy bowl, with banana adding a pleasant sweetness. The thick, creamy texture made this dish feel like a fruit pudding. I'm not super familiar with acai, but the ingredients offered a smooth blend of sweetness and earthiness.

As for the sugar content, you're getting 24% of your daily serving--still pretty high, but lower than some of the other varieties. However, you'll also get 20% of your daily vitamin B12 serving, plus a little calcium, iron and potassium.

What's the Verdict?

Most of these bowls are pretty tasty, and they do have real fruit ingredients. However, they're not quite as healthy as the marketing wants you to believe. Even the lighter bowls are loaded with cane sugar and tapioca syrup. They're good for a refreshing dessert, but if you want a nourishing breakfast, you're better off making your own smoothie bowls without the additives.