Acai Smoothie Bowl

Abbie2_3476_1-1

Chef Abbie Gellman RD

My Acai Smoothie Bowl is bright, healthy and a super satiating bowl any time of year.  Using single-serving packets of Acai, a mix of other frozen fruits, nuts, seeds and Reishi mushroom powder is a great way to start your day!

Acai 1–3

The Acai Smoothie Bowl has been a buzzy food trend that is worth the hype for the yummy taste and rich nutritional benefits.  The correct way to pronounce “Acai” is ah-sah-EE.  Acai berries are a small, round fruit that has a purple skin and yellowish flesh that surrounds a large seed.  They are a tropical fruit that grow on the Acai Palm Tree found in rainforests in Central and South America.

Acai contain a pit, similar to an olive or avocado, and are technically not a berry, but a drupe.  Before we can enjoy an Acai Smoothie Bowl the fruit is typically soaked to soften the outer skin and mashed into a paste.  When you make my Acai Smoothie Bowl you are using the pulp of the fruit, which is almost exclusively sold frozen in the U.S.

The Acai berry has a fat content of 30% – ­50%, which is exceptionally high for a fruit!  Due to the high fat content, Acai will go rancid within a day of being picked, making them unsuitable for shipping.  This means the berries cannot be exported raw to the US and most be processed and typically frozen for us to enjoy.

Health Benefits

Acai, the star of my Acai Smoothie Bowl has long been touted as a super food, and is associated with claims like weight loss, immune boosting and colon cleansing.  It has been given extensive media attention thanks to the aggressive marketing campaigns that have made this tropical fruit feel at home all over the world.

It’s important to be wary of food fads.  As a Registered Dietitian I believe that when it comes to food claims, if it sounds too good to be true––it probably is! It is unlikely that the health benefits of eating a few Acai berries can outweigh the benefit of a diverse diet of a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. With that said, Acai berries are nutritionally dense and offer a long list of health benefits.

Acai berries, can be found in single serving packs from companies like Sambazon. In a 100 gram packet there is about 70 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 3 grams of protein.  Acai berries are best known for their high antioxidant content. The deep purple color of Acai is thanks to anthocyanins, a powerful antioxidant, which have the ability to neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals throughout the body.

My Acai Smoothie Bowl has more than just Acai! The addition of peanuts, almonds, and chia provide healthy fats, fiber and protein.  Strawberries are also a great source of antioxidants, fiber and add a subtle sweetness.  Bananas are a great source of potassium and fiber.  The addition of Reishi mushroom, a powerful healing agent is known to support the immune system, keeping reading to learn more!

Reishi Mushrooms 4,5

As a Registered Dietitian, I have always been aware of the health benefits of mushrooms, but quality fresh mushrooms can be hard to find and they have such a short shelf-life.  That was until I found Qi Traditions mushroom powders! All of their products are organic and rigorously researched and tested.

I love adding Red Reishi mushroom powder to my Acai Smoothie Bowl.  Red Reishi has a long history as a powerful healing agent in China, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries.  They are considered the “God of Fungi” for their longevity-promoting power to bolster the immune system and aid in overcoming illnesses.  Reishi has been used as an immunostimulant by patients with HIV and cancer.

Make It Your Own

My Acai Smoothie Bowl is delicious and apart from the Acai, the ingredients are interchangeable.  Use the recipe as a framework to make your own Acai Smoothie Bowl, following the ratio of liquid to fruit to nuts and seeds.  If you want to learn more about plant-based milks check out my post for Vegan Hot Chocolate where I talk about my favorites!

I always keep a few different types of frozen fruits in my freezer for smoothies, they make it so easy! Whenever I have bananas sitting out that are starting to brown I will cut them in half, stick them in a plastic bag and freeze them for my Acai Smoothie Bowl.

Let’s Get Blending!

If you have never had an Acai Smoothie Bowl this recipe will make it super simple and the level of deliciousness will have you coming back again and again.  If you do not have a high-powered blender you may need to thaw the frozen fruits, especially the banana in order to properly blend.  If you make any fun substitutions, share in the comments. Enjoy!

Similar Pages

Looking for more breakfast ideas? Try my Banana Overnight Oats, Oat Flour Pancakes, and Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

References

  1. 5 Impressive Health Benefits of Acai Berries. Accessed January 23, 2021. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-acai-berries
  2. Neida S, Elba S. [Characterization of the acai or manaca (Euterpe oleracea Mart.): a fruit of the Amazon]. Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2007;57(1):94-98.
  3. Acai Berries. Accessed January 21, 2021. https://www.sidechef.com/wikis/208/acai_berries/
  4. Reishi Mushroom | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Accessed December 26, 2020. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/reishi-mushroom
  5. Qi Traditions Ultra Premium Medicinal Mushrooms. Qi Traditions. Accessed October 29, 2020. https://qitraditions.com/

 

Thumbnail, Side, Acai Smoothie Bowl with Reishi

Acai Smoothie Bowl with Reishi

5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast, brunch, Dessert, Snack
Keyword: smoothie, smoothie bowl, vegan
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 serving
Author: Chef Abbie Gellman RD

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 cup frozen blueberries
  • 1 packet frozen unsweetened Acai
  • ½ banana fresh or frozen
  • ¼ teaspoon Reishi mushroom powder
  • 1 tablespoon peanut butter
  • ½ cup sliced strawberries
  • 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
  • 1 teaspoon Chia seeds

Instructions

  • In a high powered blender, add almond milk, blueberries, acai, banana, Reishi, and peanut butter. Blend on low to medium, stopping to scrape down sides as needed, until it reaches a soft serve consistency.
  • Pour into a serving bowl and add strawberries, almonds, and chia seeds as toppings. Feel free to use whatever toppings you like!

Video

Notes

You can skip the mushroom powder if preferred, will still taste great and be super healthy!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Design-reference-for-Alexa-Ad