One-Stop-Health-Bowls-7-Acai-Recipes-to-Try-this-Summer-MainPhoto

One-Stop-Health-Bowls-7-Acai-Recipes-to-Try-this-Summer-MainPhoto

If you haven’t tried an açaí bowl recipe (pronounced ah-sigh-ee, for those of us who have been wondering), first of all, where have you been? And second of all, it’s time to get to know this superfood that is widely recognized as one of the most delicious and good-for-you foods in our world. Hands down, this is one of the tastiest ways you can show your body a little love, and when you try these amazing recipes you’ll see what we mean. Before we dig in, what exactly is açaí? It’s a purple berry that comes from the rainforests of South America and it’s becoming increasingly available in gourmet markets and health food stores around the globe. Chances are you’ve seen açaí, though not necessarily in its berry form. You can often buy açaí juice, puree, powder or pulp to use in everything from smoothies to oatmeal to cocktails and more.

Why should you incorporate açaí into your daily diet? The better question is why not. Açaí is packed with amino acids and essential fatty acids. According to the Women’s Health Research Institute at Northwestern University, “açaí berries contains anthocyanin and flavonoids, powerful antioxidants that help defend the body against life stressor’s. Antioxidants and other nutrients are needed by the body to protect against cell damage.” In other words, açaí is delicious and incredibly good for you. Sounds like a win-win to us. If you’re not sure how to eat these nutritional gems, here are 7 açaí bowl recipe ideas to enjoy this summer (and all year long).

1. Açaí Breakfast Bowl
This breakfast bowl is a one-stop-shop for tons of nutrients and vitamins, plus it happens to taste delicious. The key is finding frozen açaí puree, which you then blend with various other berries and fruits including blueberries and bananas to create a thick consistency that is somewhere between a smoothie and a pudding. Top it off with sliced fruits, coconut flakes, a little honey and you’re set. We promise, it looks much more complicated than it is, and the effort to find frozen açaí puree is well worth it.

Read Related: The Super Update: 10 New Superfoods to Eat Right Now

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2. Açaí Banana Peanut Butter Bowl
If you like peanut butter and jelly then you will love this healthy twist on that traditional flavor mix. This açaí bowl has everything: protein from the peanut butter, antioxidants from the açaí, nutrients from the berries, calcium from the yogurt…and did we mention it tastes like heaven? Even your kids will love this, and since it’s so healthy you won’t think twice about letting them have seconds.

3. Kale, Berry and Açaí Power Smoothie
You know kale is good for you, yet you cringe at the thought of eating it plain. How about mixing it into a smoothie? If you’re still not sold, rest assured that you don’t taste the kale; you only taste the deliciously tart berries and the sweet banana puree. The almond milk gives the smoothie a creamy texture, while the chia seeds, oats and hemp add a little crunch, and the entire drink only takes about 5 minutes in a blender. Seems like a small price to pay so that you look and feel like a powerhouse of health all day long.

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4. Açaí Granola Bowl
At only 329 calories per serving this bowl is a treat you can feel good about enjoying every morning. We love the granola topping to compliment the smoothness of the açaí mixture, and the flax seeds and chia seeds add a ton of fiber, which will fill you up so you are satisfied throughout your day.

5. Açaí Oat Bowl
For all the oatmeal lovers out there, this dish lets you have your oats and your antioxidants all in the same dish. This açaí berry bowl combines oatmeal, rice milk, açaí powder and berries to create a delicious breakfast (or snack) that is beautiful, and has beautiful benefits for your body.

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6. Berry Beet Açaí Bowl
Beets for breakfast? Why not! When you mix it with dates, coconut milk, berries, brazil nuts and açaí you get a dish that is so balanced and so naturally sweet that you won’t even notice you snuck a veggie in there.