Acai Bowl from Juice Generation
I first fell in love with acai when I moved to Brazil in 2006. I feasted on this superfruit almost daily for 8 years! I am now delighted to find it at juice bars all over NYC. This recipe has a special American touch- topped with raw hemp granola, banana, raw cacao nibs, and peanut butter!
Acai makes the base for this true power lunch… did you know this little Brazilian berry has 500% more antioxidants than blueberries? Acai helps brighten skin while protecting against free radicals. The hemp seeds pack a protein punch! Hemp is a superior plant protein that builds long, lean muscle tone. It is easily assimilated and does not cause bloating! Bananas add potassium which regulates fluid levels in the body and give a dose of vitamin B6 which helps ward off insomnia (and the irritibility that follows poor sleep patterns). The peanut butter (only use all natural and organic!) makes this meal satisfying while giving a big mid-day energy boost but the real kicker for this recipe is raw cacao nibs. Cacao has truly earned its reputation as a superfood! Besides being extremely high in antioxidants (which by the way play a huge role in the prevention of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and stroke), cacao is one of the best dietary sources of the magnesium (a mineral needed for over 350 biochemical reactions in our bodies) and cacao has mood enhancing neurotransmitters! That’s right, chocolate really does make you happy (the darker the better).
Recipe:
Easy! Simply blend frozen packets of acai (found in freezer section of health food store. Buy the unsweetened ones! The others have guarana syrup which is loaded with sugar…) until smooth but not soupy. Top with 1 Tablespoon of hemp seeds, 1 cut banana (the riper the sweeter!), 1-2 tablespoons organic peanut butter, and a generous sprinkling of raw cacao nibs.
Enjoy for a filling snack or meal loaded with nutritious goodness on a hot summer day!