I am OBSESSED with acai bowls.
Straight. Up. OBSESSED.
Any time I’m travelling to a new city, or going back home to the SF Bay Area, and I don’t have my trusty Nutribullet blender with me (which saves me a ton of money making my own smoothies at home), my next best option is going on Yelp, finding the best acai bowl spots in town, and ordering a fully loaded large-sized bowl.
Customized, of course—with extra blueberries, extra protein, extra cacao….peanut butter—‘cuz that’s just how I roll.
It’s just something I have to have—-like ev-ver-ree-day.
I gotta have my acai fix.
On the daily.
You know what I mean??
Just like how most people have to have their morning cup of coffee every morning in order to wake up and function—well, I NEED to have my acai.
I’ll be cranky and miserable without it!
Hahaha, maybe not so much, but you guys know what I’m talking about!
Well, after sampling acai bowl after acai bowl at numerous spots throughout my travels, and I’ve had some really awesome ones, (the Neighborhood Acai Bar in SLO was great, and so was Basik Cafe in SF), I figured it was high time I created my own version of it.
And this, no doubt, is definitely one of my favorite recipes on this blog….
So without further adieu….
Enter… my Blueberry Acai Cacao Protein Smoothie Bowl!!
This will be down right one of THE best smoothie bowls you will ever have in your life!
Delicious and nutritious, this baby is fully loaded with:
Acai, the superfood powerhouse…
Nutritious, cancer-fighting blueberries…
Wholesome, age-fighting blackberries…
Antioxidant-rich, luscious cacao….
Vitamin and fiber loaded mixed nuts….
Potassium-filled, creamy sliced bananas….
Muscle building whey protein…
and of course, we can’t forget….that lovely peanut butter drizzle…
KA-POW!!!
With 30+ grams of protein, this acai bowl is perfect for muscle recovery, and since we use chopped mixed nuts instead of the traditional granola used by most smoothie bars, we get extra fiber, extra nutrients, and lower the carbs.
Here’s a quick nutritional breakdown of the “superfood” ingredients found in this blueberry acai cacao protein smoothie bowl:
Acai berries are highly touted as being one of nature’s healthiest, most nutritious foods because of its high levels of antioxidants. These antioxidants, like anthocyanins are believed to help combat inflammation, fight free radical damage, fight cancer, and help slow the aging process by repairing damaged skin cells.
Blueberries are also loaded with antioxidants and vitamins. Studies have shown that they may help fight cancer, help fight inflammation, help support brain function, and its high fiber content aids with digestion. They are also high in manganese, which help protect bone health.
Blackberries are also considered to be one of the world’s best cancer-fighting foods. Blackberries contain numerous antioxidants that studies have shown may either slow tumor growth or may help slow cell damage. They are also good sources of vitamin C, vitamin K, and especially high in fiber.
Cacao nibs are considered to be one of the top superfoods, mainly because of its high antioxidant content. Phytonutrients in cacao nibs are believed to help fight free radical damage. Its high magnesium content helps support muscle and nerve function. Cacao nibs are also high in fiber, which is good for digestion.
I opted to use a variety of mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, brazil nuts, pecans) for this acai bowl instead of granola because nuts are healthier, have more protein, and are lower carb. Nuts are also jam-packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, “healthy” fats—the list goes on and on.
Nuts are also high in fiber, and according to the Diabetes Education Online website, “fiber is a type of carbohydrate your body can’t digest…you should subtract grams of fiber from the total carbohydrate (count).”
So if you’re watching your carb intake, and want a little more protein boost, nuts over granola is the way to go.
OK, here’s what you’ll need for the Blueberry Acai Cacao Protein Smoothie Bowl:
Quick note: Not all frozen acai packets are created equal! Some of these have added sugars and other unwanted ingredients added to it! I don’t know why, but it is what it is. Please check the labels carefully on whatever brand you plan on purchasing.
I personally use Trader Joe’s Unsweetened Organic Acai Puree packets, Acai Roots, or Amazon Planet brands. These are all natural with no added sugars. The real good acai brands have ZERO grams of sugar. Zero.
Also, 6 grams of carbs tops per packet. 3 grams of fiber per, so after you do the fiber/carb subraction as was explained earlier—-that leaves 3 grams of carbs, tops per packet. Natural acai is very lean, and this bowl will already have other fruits in it, so we don’t need some unnecessary sugars that are not needed!
If you’re craving for more acai, check out these recipes…
and for another smoothie bowl, check out my….
Alright then, let’s get to it!!
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Servings |
bowl
|
- 2 frozen acai packets
- 3/4 cup frozen blueberries
- 4 frozen strawberries
- 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
- 1/4 cup Trop50 OJ
- 1/3 cup almond milk
Ingredients
Blend:
Toppings:
|
|
- Place mixed nuts into ziploc bag and mash with a mallet or your fist. Set aside.
- Add blend ingredients into blender and blend to nice, thick consistency.
- Pour blend into bowl and add toppings. Drizzle peanut butter on top. Enjoy!!
-Only add as much liquid to the blend as needed! We want a nice, thick, ice cream-like consistency for the bowl!
-Depending on the strength of your blender, you may need to run your frozen acai packets under warm water for about 10 seconds, and break them apart into smaller pieces to help your blender break them down easier.
-Add more protein powder to the blend if you wish. Just add more liquid as needed.
-Try adding frozen bananas to the blend.
-Feel free to mix and match any kind of nuts or fruits you desire.
-To control carb intake, add or subtract fruits, berries, and/or nuts to your liking.
Even swap or add in your favorite granola.
