Think of your favorite food. Something you could eat every day. The last meal you would eat before you die. The food you couldn’t live without. For me, that is an acai bowl.
Anyone who knows me will reassure you that there’s nothing I’d rather eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They might also tell you about the time I insisted on making an acai bowl for breakfast and ended up getting stitches in my finger. So I guess you could say acai is sort of my addiction. Although, purchasing an acai bowl every morning can become a bit pricy so I began making my own bowls. I get most of my creative inspiration from Andrea Hannemann (@earthyandy on Instagram), who has the best gluten-free and vegan recipes! I started making my own bowls after following Andrea and seeing her colorful acai creations. I am still attempting to master the art of creating the perfect acai bowl; however, below are my current favorite recipes:
1. The Protein Bowl
I normally make this bowl after a workout. It is high in protein, incorporates the greens and is overall one of the healthiest bowls.
Ingredients:
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One cup ice
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One Sambazon acai packet
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Half cup frozen strawberries
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Half a banana (ripe or frozen)
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One cup spinach/kale (fresh or frozen)
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One tablespoon of peanut butter/almond butter (preferably organic)
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One scoop of plant-based protein powder (I prefer vanilla for this type of bowl)
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Half cup hemp seeds or chia seeds
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Half cup flax seeds
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Half cup oat milk (or any plant-based/dairy-free milk and add more as needed)
Optional: Half an avocado or one scoop of collagen powder.
Blend until smooth.
I like to top the Protein Bowl with granola, walnuts, coconut shavings, chia seeds, strawberries, blueberries, bananas and almond butter.
2. The Sweet Bowl
I normally make the Sweet Bowl whenever I develop a sweet tooth…which is WAY too often. This bowl acts as a healthy alternative for dessert. Place this bowl in the freezer for about two to four hours if you want to create an ice cream texture.
Ingredients:
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One cup ice
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One Sambazon acai packet
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One cup frozen mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
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One banana (ripe or frozen)
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One teaspoon vanilla extract
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One teaspoon agave/maple syrup
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One tablespoon almond butter/peanut butter
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One tablespoon cacao powder (healthy alternative: chocolate protein powder)
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Half cup oat milk (or any plant-based/dairy-free milk and add more as needed)
Optional: Two Medjool dates, half cup coffee, half an avocado, one scoop greens powder and/or one scoop collagen powder.
Blend until smooth.
I like to top the Sweet Bowl with granola, coconut shavings, cocoa nibs, almond butter/Nutella, strawberries/raspberries and a drizzle of agave.
3. The Tropical Bowl
I love this bowl because it reminds me of a sunny day on the beach. While eating this bowl, I imagine myself on a sandy beach in Hawaii getting in a good tan.
Ingredients:
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One cup ice
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One Sambazon acai packet (can sub out for pitaya for more tropical flavor)
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Half cup frozen mango
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Half cup frozen strawberries
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Half a banana (ripe or frozen)
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Half cup oat milk (or any plant-based/dairy-free milk and add more as needed)
Optional: Half cup pineapple, half an avocado, one scoop greens powder and/or one scoop collagen powder.
Blend until smooth.
I like to top the Tropical Bowl with granola, coconut shavings, mango, kiwi and strawberries/bananas. The more color the better.
My favorite part of making acai bowls at home is creating different looks with my toppings. I love to cut my fruit differently each time, place everything in its own spot on top of the bowl and feel like a professional acai artist. Make these three bowls anytime throughout the day or whenever you need a pick-me-up, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Acai truly is heaven in a bowl.
Save money, get creative, enjoy the experience and make an acai bowl!
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