Acai bowls are extremely easy to make. They are also delicious. This is something that you’ll want to have daily because there are so many ways that you can create it.
There are certain elements that will go together in your bowl. These include fruit, peanut butter, oats and more. So, with that in mind, just how do you make your acai bowl? More importantly, what is an acai bowl and why is it so useful for your diet?
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about making an acai bowl every single day.
What Exactly Is an Acai Bowl?
The acai berry is pronounced “ah-sigh-ee.” It’s a purple berry that is native to South America, around the Amazon River. It grows on the palm trees in the area and tastes a lot like wild berries and chocolate mixed together. Some people have noted that there is also a soil taste within the berries. This takes away the sweet taste.
You can’t just pick a berry and eat it like you can with all the others that you’re used to. Acai berries are mostly made up of stone. To get all the health benefits, the fruit needs to be blended down.
It’s worth the hard work – or getting the store versions of acai berries – because of all the health benefits of the fruit. There’s no denying that acai berries are a superfood. In fact, they’re one of the best superfoods. There are just so many antioxidants packed into the small fruit; much more than the majority of other berries that you will get on a regular basis.
Antioxidants are linked to all sorts of health benefits. They help to fight free radicals to boost the health of cells and fight against cancer. They are known for their anti-aging benefits since they will improve collagen and cell structure in the skin. They are also known for supporting the immune system to fight off everyday diseases.
In short, acai berries are one of the best fruits that you can get into your diet just for the antioxidants. But they are also good for you because of the protein, fiber and healthy fats. When you want to lose weight, you want to find food that will make you feel full quickly and will help you feel full for hours after your meal.
Acai bowls don’t just have the fiber and protein benefits from the actual berries. There are more benefits within the acai bowls to help with your weight loss and better health goals that you have.
But this still doesn’t answer the question of what an acai bowl actually is. It’s a bowl that has a berry smoothie base. On top of that, you add all types of fruits, nuts, and oats. Think of it as a fruit smoothie with solid bits that you eat with a spoon or a fruity soup that you can enjoy on a morning.
You won’t use fresh acai berries in your bowls. Unfortunately, fresh ones will go off extremely quickly, and you lose the delicious berry and chocolate flavors. Instead, you’ll need to get a frozen or dried mixture available in stores. A frozen puree is one of the best options for the sake of acai berry bowls. They are easy to use and store for the long term. The powder will work, but you need to get the right ingredients to turn it into a delicious and creamy smoothie base for your acai bowl.
What Is the Traditional Acai Bowl?
Before moving onto making your own bowl, it’s worth finding out how the Brazilians make their own traditional acai bowls. The traditional bowl is known as Acai natigela. It’s not going to be the healthiest option for you, but it is delicious. The Brazilians use frozen pulp from the berry and some guarana syrup. The syrup helps to add something a little sweeter to the pulp.
Brazilians also tend to add some banana and granola on the top of their bowls. The bananas add more fiber, while also adding other necessary nutrients. With granola, you get a bit of a crunch, but you need to watch out which type of granola you buy. It’s not always the healthiest of oats and mueslis.
Guarana syrup isn’t the easiest to find outside of Brazil. While you could substitute it with another syrup, you’ll find buying it and using it sparingly is the best for the traditional taste.
But you don’t want to put up with an expensive breakfast that you can only have now and then, right? You want an acai bowl that you can make on a daily basis to benefit from all the health benefits. Well, this is where this guide for acai bowls will come in handy.
Making Your Own Acai Bowl
Let’s work layer by layer to create the best acai bowl for your health.
Start with the Acai Berries
The first step is to get your acai berries. You’ll usually find the frozen options around the frozen fruit aisle. This really is the easiest way to start your morning.
If you want to try the powdered version, you can get that from most health stores or online. When you make up the powdered versions, try using milk or natural yogurt for a creamy but healthy taste. For those who are vegan or want to get away from too much dairy, almond milk or coconut milk are popular alternatives that will still create a creamy, smoothie-like base.
You’ll find that the acai puree is dark purple.
You can add in other pureed berries if you’d like. Some of the popular additions include blueberries and raspberries for the extra antioxidants. Wild berries are also popular since they complement the acai berry tastes.
Top with Fruits of Your Choice
Now it’s for the layers of fruit. Bananas are certainly popular and worthwhile adding into your bowl. There’s a reason the Brazilians use them. One of the biggest benefits is in the nutrients. Bananas are full of potassium and healthy carbs that will give you energy throughout the morning. You can just slice up fresh banana to layer on the top of your acai smoothie.
Chop up some papaya and mango. These two fruits add to the tropical taste of the acai berries, especially with the bananas. They also have a naturally sweet taste, which can help to balance out some of the soily taste in the acai berries.
Pumpkin can also make a tasty addition, especially if you want something that is slightly more savory.
Really, you want to add fruits that you enjoy the taste of. You can top with other berries, including strawberries and blackberries, to help add complimentary tastes to the acai berry puree. Kiwis and coconuts are also popular additions to the acai bowl.
Try out different combinations of fruits. You get to make something completely different each time you put together an acai bowl with this method.
You can also blend some of the fruit into your acai puree. This is a great way to thicken up the mixture, especially if you’ve decided to use the powdered form instead.
However, you use the fruit, try to opt for fresh as much as possible. While dried fruit can be easy and cheap, it’s also full of sugar. You get rid of the water content, which means the natural sugars will metabolize quickly and you don’t get all the health benefits. Frozen fruit can be beneficial, but you will need to wait for it to defrost to use with your acai berry!
When pureeing the fruit, make sure you blend as much as possible instead of juicing. Juicing the fruit will remove the pulp, which removes the fiber from the delicious additions. You don’t feel as full and instead, end up with more sugar metabolizing quickly in your body.
Sprinkle with Some Nuts and Seeds
Now it’s time to add some extra protein to your bowl. You can do this through the use of nuts and seeds in your acai bowl.
Choose the nuts and seeds that you love the most. If you’re allergic to nuts, just opt for multiple seeds instead. Chop up or crush the nuts and seeds so you can sprinkle them over the top of your acai berry bowl.
In some cases, peanut butter is used. This is added into the acai berry puree to help thicken it up. You will only need a tablespoon or two of peanut butter. This can be beneficial for your health in small amounts due to the protein and healthy fats in the peanuts. However, there are some saturated fats in the butter that will balance out the benefits if you have too much of it.
Nuts are among the best for your protein and healthy fats intake. They’re full of selenium to help boost your energy levels on a daily basis.
Try adding peanuts, walnuts, and hazelnuts to your mixture. Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are also popular additions. Mix and match as you make new acai bowls to create something delicious and new every single day really.
Add in Some Oats or Granola
Now it’s time to finish off your bowl with some extra fiber. Oats are the best way to do this.
Remember that the protein and fiber in your bowl will help you feel fuller. You won’t eat as much, aiding with your weight loss efforts. You’ll also feel fuller for longer throughout the day.
With the oats, you can choose to blend them into the acai puree. This is a great way to soak up the acai juices, so your oats don’t taste as bland or dry. However, sprinkling a handful over the top of your fruit with your nuts is acceptable.
Granola is a popular option because of the sweeter taste. Do watch out for added sugar and the other fruit ingredients used in your granola.
Adding a touch of spice
Still not quite satisfied with the taste? How about adding a bit of pumpkin spice or cinnamon to your breakfast bowl? In fact, add any type of spice that you want. Nutmeg and ginger are popular additions and can offer some extra health benefits.
These are just optional. You may get plenty of taste from all the fruits and nuts that you’ve added in.
You can add some maple syrup or raw honey if you want a slightly sweeter taste to finish off your breakfast bowl.
This Isn’t a Miracle Food!
I wish I could say that by eating acai bowls all day you will lose weight. Well, you will, but you’re not necessarily going to lose it the healthy way. Likewise, having an acai bowl as a way to start your morning isn’t necessarily going to help with your weight loss.
There is a lot of hype around acai berry as a miracle weight loss tool. This is supposed to help boost your metabolism considerably and improve your overall health.
There aren’t any miracle foods out there. Acai berries work well when included as part of a healthy and balanced diet. One acai bowl is all you need to start your day right. From there, you will need to make healthy choices for your snacks and your other meals. Don’t just rely on this for your weight loss efforts.
It’s Time to Make Your First Acai Bowl
Now you can get stuck in with acai bowls. Which one will you make first?
I recommend starting small and working your way up. Just add a few complimentary berries and banana in with your acai berry puree. You can sprinkle one or two nuts and get used to the taste of the acai berries first.
This is a great way to get used to the prep for putting together this delicious start to your morning. You’ll also get used to the unique taste of acai berries. From there, you can add more fruits, nuts, and seeds in.
Change your bowls around regularly, so you never get used to the same flavors!
