Kick-off Memorial Day Weekend with Fit & Yummy Acai-Bowls
Unless you’ve been living under a rock – and umm, ok – lately we’ve ALL been living under our own proverbial “Stay Home” rocks, you probably know about Acai-Bowls (pronounced Ah-sa-EE). I mean, they’re all over Instagram and in my area we even have a stand-alone Acai storefront where you can pop in and have one made to order! I mean, it IS Southern Cal, after all.
It’s Basically a Very Thick Smoothie-in-a-Bowl
An Acai Bowl is basically like a very thick Smoothie-in-a-Bowl, topped with your choice of goodies – most commonly fruits, nuts, coconut, granola and honey which….you guessed it – can quickly turn it into half a days worth of calories! That’s why I think you’ll love my version – it’s got all of the decadent yumminess, without a huge calorie explosion. You know I wouldn’t do that to ya 😉
What exactly IS Acai?
ACAI is a purple berry that looks similar to a grape, and is considered by most to be a Superfood because it’s just packed with vitamins and nutrients! Acai berries have a super short shelf-life, so they’re usually pureed, frozen and sold in a box of single-serving packs where you can easily make it into a healthy smoothie or sorbet just by adding a few goodies and giving it a whir in a high-powered blender or Vita-Mix!
It’s basically a thick Smoothie-in-a-Bowl & SO refreshing! Swap in Frozen Blueberries in lieu of Acai in a pinch.
The Acai Berry is:
+ Packed with Anti-oxidants that can help build up the immune system and protect our cells from the damage of free radicals.
+ Great source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, to help improve cholesterol & reduce risk of coronary heart disease.
+ Fiber to help keep you fuller, longer.
+ High in Calcium to help keep bones, muscles & heart healthy!
Typical Acai-Bowls are High-Calorie – this one is NOT!
You know the gig – we Americans tend to take something that is inherently a healthy, low-cal treat and make it…. ummm, not so healthy or low-cal. A lot of Acai-Bowl recipes will add nut butters or fruit juices to the “Smoothie” portion of the Acai Bowl, then top it with tons of granola, honey, lots of nuts and the like. Delicious? Yes!
But I’ve got a better option that’s lower in calories and has NO Added-Sugars (honey is an added-sugar, and most granolas contain honey or maple syrup), and I’ve squeezed in protein powder + a handful of baby spinach that you’ll never taste – but you’ll the get all the nutritional benefits. 😉
My Swimsuit-Friendly, PLANT-BASED version for Breakfast or Healthy Desserts this Memorial Day Weekend. Have it instead of ice cream!
See the Video – we can make it together!
Memorial Day – Acai Breakfast Bowls! (PLANT-BASED)
Ingredients
- 2 3.5 oz packet Acai Berry Puree, Unsweetened & frozen. Find in frozen section of grocery store.
- 1 medium banana, cut in half. (Half in blender, half sliced for topping)
- ½ cup plain Coconut-Milk Yogurt, unsweetened
- Handful baby spinach leaves
- ½ cup Scant frozen cherries (or any berry you like)
- 1 cup Scant frozen blueberries
- 1½ scoops vanilla protein powder, no added-sugar
- ½ cup Scant unsweetened vanilla almond milk or Lite coconut milk
Toppings
- ½ cup fresh blueberries
- 10-12 fresh blackberries (or strawberries if preferred)
- ½ ½ banana, sliced
- 3 tbsp shredded coconut, unsweetened
- 2 tbsp pistachios, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Make the “Smoothie” portion as thick or loose as you like. Typical Acai-Bowls have an almost sorbet-like consistency, best achieved with a Vita-Mix (harder in a blender) and using less liquid. Personally, I like it a little looser but it’s YOUR bowl! Start with the 1/2 cup of the almond milk, adding more if you want a looser consistency.
- Puree all ingredients except toppings, and divide equally between 2 shallow bowls. Divide toppings equally, and place them in pretty vertical rows on top. Enjoy your healthy breakfast or as a dessert in lieu of ice cream or sugary desserts!
