As the temperatures here in New York begin to rise, our appetites and food cravings begin to change as well. We naturally tend to crave refreshing meals and beverages during these warmer months. We may switch from drinking hot coffee to iced with our breakfasts or from hot chocolate to milkshakes for our desserts. Our bodies no longer need the warmth that is provided from comfort foods as the weather begins to warm up. We begin to crave fresh and lighter meals.
You can find me purchasing more fruits and vegetables as the weather starts to change and not just because bathing suit season is right around the corner. While that does have a little something to do with it, I do enjoy making fresh smoothies with fruits that are in season during this time. Some of these fruits include various berries, mangos, and pineapples. My all-time favorite meal to make with these fruits are acai bowls.
Acai berries come from Acai Palm trees, which grow in Central and South America. These berries are very high in nutrients and are full of antioxidants and fiber. These berries can provide various health benefits to our bodies. There are many variations of acai bowls that are constantly being created. You can add extra ingredients to both the smoothie mixture and the toppings to achieve different flavors each time you create a bowl.
Acai Mixture:
- 2 packets of original blend or pure unsweetened Sambazon acai packets
- ⅛ cup almond milk
- 4 frozen strawberries
- ¼ cup frozen blueberries
- ¼ cup frozen or fresh banana
- 1 tbsp peanut butter (optional)
Directions:
- Run one frozen acai packet under hot water while still sealed until completely melted
- Break apart the second frozen acai packet into pieces while still sealed
- Add all of the ingredients to blender and blend until smooth
- Pour mixture into bowl, smooth out and top with favorite toppings
- Enjoy!
Some popular topping to add to these bowls are:
- Melted nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew)
- Nutella
- Cookie butter
- Fresh fruit (bananas, berries, mango, kiwi)
- Honey
- Coconut
- Chocolate chips
- Granola (Vanilla Almond Nut is my favorite)
- Chia seeds