Photos by Derek White, courtesy of Chakra Bowls
Chakra Bowls concocts colorful treats that nourish your body and color your Instagram feed.
If you’ve scrolled through Instagram at any point in the past, oh, let’s say 24 hours, chances are you’ve seen at least one smoothie bowl brighten your feed. Chances are you also liked said photo, which was probably brighter than a rainbow and packed with more vitamins than your last homemade salad.
Instead of living vicariously through Insta-perfect images of magical smoothie bowls that must have taken hours to put together, you can now head to Chakra Bowls to taste the nutritious rainbow for yourself. That’s right Hudson Valley foodies, this Poughkeepsie eatery is all about the health fad that’s as pretty as it is delicious.
In Dutchess County, Chakra Bowls leads the way locally with healthy, seasonal flavors that provide healthy alternatives to breakfast bagels and last-minute Chinese food lunches.
“It started about a year and a half ago when my interest in holistic health deepened,” explains Lauren Hoheusle, the owner of Chakra Bowls. “I took special interest in smoothie and acai bowls because of how easy it felt to jam-pack a bowl with nutrition and make it look very ‘Instagram-worthy.’”
When family, friends, and even strangers began to request bowls from the photos on her Instagram feed, Hoheusle realized her newfound talent had business potential. She began delivering throughout the Poughkeepsie area, then took the next step and opened a brick-and-mortar location in Dutchess County.
Located next to The Wheelhouse in Poughkeepsie, Chakra Bowls is a go-to for spinners who need fuel after class and locals who crave avocado toast for breakfast and kaleidoscope-hued smoothie bowls for lunch.
“The menu consists of mostly vegan-friendly options, with a focus on all-natural and local ingredients,” Hoheusle explains, adding that the house favorites are hands-down the bowls and healthy toasts.
“The Indulgent Bowl is very popular, with a base of frozen banana, 100-percent cacao, peanut butter, and almond milk. It’s topped with granola, cacao nibs, almonds, and coconut flakes,” she notes. Other hits include the Hudson Valley Bowl, made with frozen banana, apple cider, almond milk, and cinnamon, and the Green Goddess Bowl, which packs frozen banana, chlorella, mango puree, almond milk, and cucumber into one dish. All bowls are customizable and available in smoothie form as well.
The build-your-own theme continues with the healthy toasts, which can be topped with combinations like decadent Nutella and strawberries or energizing avocado and cayenne. For further variety, the warm oatmeal bowl hits the spot on chilly days while the chia pudding, salads, and power bites add pep to your step at any hour. As for drinks, Hoheusle keeps it natural with Sacred Herbs teas and hot and iced coffee from North River Roasters.
One thing to note: Chakra Bowls steers clear of added sugar. Instead, Hoheusle looks to superfoods like dragon fruit, coconut, and chia to add fresh, natural flavor and sweetness to each and every dish. After all, it’s the only way to let the essence of the dishes truly shine.
Throughout the year, she plans to keep the core menu the same and add a few seasonal ingredients and cold-weather specials.
“We’ve just added an amazing warm oat and nut bowl to our menu which is topped with cinnamon, bananas, berries, and honey drizzle,” she reveals. “It’s perfect for the cold months ahead.”
Chakra Bowls
33 Arlington Ave, Poughkeepsie
845.849.0399
