Alison Tierney, MS, RD, CD, CSO
Alison is a registered dietitian, board-certified in oncology nutrition, and a cancer thriver. Her expertise in oncology nutrition and personal experience with her own cancer diagnosis and its treatment provide her with the unique perspective of being able to relate to her clients on an entirely different level. Her content is consistently focused on evidence-based guidelines and seeks to increase the awareness of the power of nutrition to complement traditional cancer therapies.
How to Make Açaí Bowls
Avocado toast and açaí bowls seem to be the new trend in cafe-like restaurants – at least by us.
These are two trends I am not mad about!
Here in Wisconsin, açaí bowls are a little harder to come by. When we went to San Diego for a conference, we saw them on almost every menu — especially the breakfast places. #lucky
My plant-based eating is certainly more suited for living on the West Coast, but I don’t see moving there anytime soon.
Thankfully, you can make your own right at home. And it’s really easy!
What is Açaí?
Açaí is a small berry found on South American palm trees. In Brazil, these delicious little berries are considered a staple. They are also deemed by many as a “superfood” related to its high antioxidant, fiber, iron, and calcium content. Plus, they contain significant amounts of phytonutrients, specifically anthocyanins.
Here in the U.S. you generally will only find açaí as a frozen puree or a powder. At our house, we prefer the powder.
What is an Açaí Bowl?
This delicious new favorite meal of ours is essentially a smoothie, but a little thicker so you can eat it with a spoon! It becomes an açaí bowl just by simply adding açaí to the mix. Throw the smoothie into a bowl and top with your favorite ingredients such as granola, fresh fruit, coconut shreds, chia seeds, and more.
In my eyes, a smoothie bowl isn’t complete without a little swirl of peanut butter!
The possibilities are endless when it comes to smoothie bowls, but here is how we like to make ours. Feel free to adapt it to whatever you prefer!
Açaí Bowl
Makes: 1 large smoothie bowl
Ingredients
½ cup frozen mixed berries
½ cup frozen strawberries
½ tablespoon ground flaxseeds
1 tablespoon açaí powder
2 tablespoons plain, non-dairy yogurt
2 tablespoons apple juice
¼ cup non-dairy milk*
1 large handful baby spinach
Topping suggestions:
Fresh Fruit, such as berries and banana
Nut Butter
Chia Seeds
Directions
Add all smoothie ingredients to a high-speed blender until smooth. Add a splash more of liquid if needed, but remember we want to keep the smoothie thick!
Add to a bowl. Top with desired toppings.
Enjoy!
*Note: I love the extra creaminess organic soy or oat milk gives to these açaí bowls!
