January 07, 2019 at 09:34AM
No matter where you live, January and February are, well, pretty bleak. The holidays are over, it’s too dark before and after work to do your regular outside run, and the sweaters you were jazzed to wear in October no longer seem all that exciting. And as far as breakfast goes? You’re so over that regular bowl of oatmeal. In which case…may we suggest an acai bowl?
Acai bowls—which typically include other fruits and sweeteners, like honey, along with the namesake acai—get a lot of love in summer, when fruits are plentiful at the farmers’ market. But they could be just what you need to give your wintry morning routine life. Not only will they mentally transport you to warmer days, but the antioxidants and vitamins in the fruit they contain will help keep your immune system in top form, ready to fight off all the nasty germs going around your office.
Stock up on frozen fruit (plus all the fresh stuff you can find at the grocery store), and you’ll be good to go with these easy, healthy recipes. You’ll be saying “thank u, next” to your boring bowl of overnight oats in no time.
Rounded up here are 9 healthy acai bowl recipes to get you started. Hello, tropical vacation vibes!
1. Banana cacao avocado acai bowl
You don’t need to have been raised on banana splits to know just how well bananas and chocolate (or in this case, cacao) pair together. Hummusapien blogger Alexis Joseph says she uses a frozen pack of acai berries and then tosses the other ingredients right into her blender. Easy peasy.
2. Peanut butter & jelly acai bowl
Consider this the grown-up version of your favorite childhood comfort food. If fruit alone isn’t enough to fill you up in the morning, try Minimalist Baker Dana Shultz’s recipe out. The peanut butter ups the protein, making it extra satiating. It works as a perfect post-workout recovery snack, too!
3. Acai, berry, and baobab breakfast bowl
Never heard of baobab? The fruit is packed with fiber, vitamin C, calcium, and vitamin B6—and the citrus flavor tastes really yummy when paired with acai. This recipe from blogger Ella Mills also calls for almond butter, which adds protein and creaminess like peanut butter, but with a less overpowering flavor.
4. Berry superfood smoothie bowl
Acai doesn’t just pair well with other fruits; you can toss a handful of greens into your blender and they’ll play well together, too. (Fiber, FTW!) Add a tiny bit of maple syrup if you need a little more sweetness, as suggested in this recipe from Love and Lemons.
5. Blueberry acai bowl
Um, prettiest breakfast bowl ever? Combining acai with blueberries gives this bowl its vibrant pink hue, while banana, almond butter, and almond milk balance out the sweetness. The recipe from Choosing Chia also calls for a teaspoon of chia seeds (what else?) for extra protein.
6. Tropical acai bowl
As you can see by now, most acai recipes also call for other popular berries, like blueberries and strawberries. But The Foodie Dietitian blogger Kara Lydon gives her breakfast a different twist, adding kiwi, mango, and pineapple instead. Pineapple contains the digestive enzyme bromelain, which is good for your gut and supports a healthy digestion. Add granola on top to give your bowl a little crunch.
7. Acai berry bowl
The go-to hack that makes this recipe super easy while simultaneously varying the flavor profile: buying a frozen mixed berries blend. That way, you get some diversity in there. This recipe from VeguKate also calls for a handful of spinach so you start your day off with some greens.
8. Easy acai smoothie bowl
If you like your bowl to bring some bite, take a cue from Healthy Happy Life blogger Kathy Patalsky and top your breakfast off with granola, puffed rice, chopped nuts, pumpkin seeds, or hemp seeds—she likes to rotate through the list, depending on what she’s craving that day.
9. Copycat Juice Generation acai smothie bowl
After realizing she was shelling out $9 a little too often for her favorite acai bowl at Juice Generation, the Chocolate Covered Katie blogger decided to master the recipe herself at home. The secret: using coconut milk instead of almond (and coconut meat, if you have it handy). Her recipe also calls for vanilla extract, another genius add-in.
If you’re looking for some more recipe to get out of your breakfast rut, check out health coach Robin Youklis’s “superhuman breakfast,” which she says helps jumpstart her digestion in the AM. Or, eat pie for breakfast. (It’s healthy, we promise!)
Continue Reading…
Author Emily Laurence | Well and Good
Selected by iversue
Each one looks awesome! Love the fresh ingredients!!