Post Thanksgiving Cleanse: The Best Acai Smoothie Bowl

One of my favorite ways to get back to healthy eating mid-holiday season is by enjoying acai smoothie bowls! They are the most brilliant idea – a speedy meal of delicious fruit, creamy almond milk, and endless toppings that are packed with nutrition keeping you satisfied!  I pretty much lived off acai smoothie bowls this summer, using whichever frozen fruit I had on hand.  Something about smoothie bowls just makes me so ecstatic for the morning or whenever I have it.  They are just so delicious!  I’m not sure how I forgot about them since fall started but I’m back on the smoothie kick!  The great thing about this recipe is how quick it is to make as you just place all the wonderful ingredients into a blender.  It’s the perfect easy breakfast meal.  I know that many people don’t have juicers and may be on the fence about investing in one so this is a wonderful alternative to juicing.  You are still getting incredible amounts of nutrients and the fiber is still intact and not stripped away, as with a juicer.  This is one of my go-to smoothie bowl recipes.  I absolutely adore adding acai powder to the mix.  It adds a heavy dose of antioxidants while finishing off the smoothie with even more berry essence!  The almond milk blends perfectly with the sweet fruit, making the smoothie so thick and creamy, while the dates add a little bite and sweetness throughout.  The best thing are the toppings. I love adding cacao nibs for a chocolaty crunch and pomegranates for an incredible burst of sweet juice. 

Acai is one of the latest superfoods that have been toted around for its incredible health benefits.  Acai berries grow on palm trees in Brazil and are often freeze-dried and crushed into a powder to retain most of its nutrients.  Because of its high anthocyanin (antioxidant) levels, the Brazilians have been harvesting acai berries to treat skin care aliments for centuries.  Its antioxidant content is two times that of blueberries! It can also give our skin a healthier glow, one that is so often talked about and coveted in the beauty world. Even beauty products are starting to use acai oil because of these unique properties.  It is an incredibly delicious and healthy addition to your smoothies that will keep you healthy from the inside out!

Serves: 1

Prep Time: 2 minutes | Cook Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients for the Best Acai Smoothie Bowl:

- 2/3 almond milk or coconut water (or water)

- 1 frozen ripe banana

- 2/3 cup frozen blueberries

- 1/2 cup frozen raspberries (or any frozen fruit)

- 1 tablespoon acai powder

- 2 pitted medjool dates

- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

- 1 large handful of spinach (optional, but I swear you can't taste it)

Instructions:

Simply place all your ingredients into a blender and blend until thick and creamy.  I like to add the pitted dates right at the end of blending as to leave a few bites of dates within the smoothie.  Enjoy!