When David & Bettina Wheeler opened the BOWLeD LIFe food truck in September of 2017, they didn’t expect it to garner the cult-like following it has today. But, when you do things right, sometimes it just happens.

The business was started with an entrepreneurial spirit and a love for acai bowls. As the affectionately nicknamed “Purple People Feeder” started to make its mark in the area, they quickly realized there was a high demand for even more healthy menu options.

The menu began to expand, mostly as a result of customer requests. Today, you can find a selection of delicious staples including acai bowls, smoothies, salads, avocado toast, soup, and breakfast items.

David and Bettina pride themselves on providing outstanding customer service and offering an excellent product at a fair price. Every time you step up to the truck, you can expect to see smiling faces and receive amazing food that exceeds your expectations.

When we asked the owners what makes their food so special, they said:

“Our food is special because every item is created with flavor and love. We will never take shortcuts and our ingredients will always be of the highest quality. We don’t create anything we wouldn’t serve to our friends and family. To us, there is no higher reward than seeing smiling faces, empty bowls, and amazing reviews of our food.” 

They’re excited to keep introducing people to fresh-made, healthy choices that taste great. They’re also extremely passionate about our community and offer ongoing discounts to our local service personnel including first responders, police, and veterans.

One of the most popular items at BOWLeD LIFe is the avocado toast. This is an absolute must-have when you pay them a visit. It’s made one slice at a time, and the avocados are mashed and seasoned while the toast is cooking.

The “classic” version comes with tomatoes, parsley, and black pepper, but you don’t have to stop there! You can also choose from a huge variety of toppings including egg, chicken, bacon, black beans, feta cheese, almonds, and a balsamic drizzle. You can also order it on gluten-free toast.

The newest menu item is the Passion Salad. It’s made with fresh greens, arugula, snow peas, cucumbers, pepitas, delicious smoked salmon, and an amazing house-made passion fruit dressing. This is the third salad on the menu, coming in alongside the Quinoa Bowl and Keto Bowl salads.

The food truck became so popular that in October of 2018, BOWLeD LIFe expanded to a brick-and-mortar location. The BOWLeD LIFe Cafe, located in Palmetto, offers the same food items as the food truck but gives visitors a quaint spot to kick back and relax while enjoying their meals. Here you’ll find free WiFi, music, and outdoor seating. In a hurry? No problem! You can order take-out from here too.

The cafe is located at 929 10th St E, Palmetto, FL 34221 and is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Where to Find the Food Truck

The BOWLeD LIFe food truck operates 5 to 7 days a week. Their two regular weekly locations include:

• BankOZK at Blake Medical Center (59th and 21st) every Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
• Downtown Bradenton at Tellers/Connect Bradenton (1201 6th Ave W) every Thursday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Locations on other days vary depending on the needs of the community. During the week, you’ll see the truck at various business lunches, schools, festivals, apartment complexes, churches, and other events.  Some of their most popular locations during season are “Food Truck Friday” at IMG Academy, show rehearsal days at FELD Entertainment, and “Worship Wednesday” at Bayside Community Church.

You can also catch them at many local festivals throughout the year including the Bradenton Blues Festival, Bradenton River Regatta, Bradenton Art Slam, Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market, Sarasota Veg Fest, Tampa Veg Fest, Bayfest on AMI, and the Coquina Beach Music Festival.

To keep up with locations and menu changes, be sure to follow BOWLeD LIFe on Facebook. And, when you go to visit (because we know you will!) don’t forget to tell them that you heard about it on Discover Bradenton!