I love acai bowls. By love, I mean that I could eat them every day. However, it’s a pretty expensive habit, whether eating out or stocking the house with pure acai frozen packets. Alternatively, I occasionally make acai or other smoothie bowls for myself for breakfast or after a workout if I don’t feel like a full meal before dinner. With summer coming up, I will be craving them even more, so I have been testing out some new combinations lately.
This recipe that I came up with is really healthy, limits natural sugars, is packed with nutrients, is filling, and tastes great! It’s also a good way to incorporate more gelatin into your diet, and get the amazing benefits of including gelatin in your diet on a regular basis. If you’re not familiar with the benefits of gelatin, check out this post by Wellness Mama, this one on Chris Kresser’s blog, or this post from Civilized Caveman for more information.
There are two types of gelatin: regular (red can – which gels) and collagen hydrolysate (green can – which does not gel). This post on Butter Nutrition is a great resource for which type go gelatin is right for you, but the green can is cold water soluble so it usually works bests in smoothies and bowls. I keep both around the house and buy the Great Lakes brand. Definitely make that the brand you buy is grass fed!
Gelatin/collagen may not be healthy for everyone, so consult a physician or nutritionist if you have any questions about supplementing gelatin in your diet.
Green Monkey
Ingredients:
-
Smoothie Bowl:
- 3/4 Cup of Full Fat Canned Coconut Milk (I use this brand which is also BPA free)
- 1 Heaping Tbsp. Raw Cacao Power
- 1 Tbsp. Protein Powder (I’ve been using this one lately)
- 1 Tbsp. Collagen Hydrolysate (like this one)
- 2 tsp. Chia Seeds
- 2 tsp. Hemp Seeds (plus more for topping if desired)
- 1 Tbsp. Almond Butter (or peanut butter for the non purists paleo peeps)
- 1/2 Large Frozen Banana
- 1 Handful Frozen Organic Spinach
-
Toppings:
- Blueberries
- Homemade Granola (or I usually have these tasty pre-made nut clusters on hand)
- Cacao Nibs
- Hemp Seeds
- Anything else you like! (strawberries, sliced banana, almonds, macadamia nuts, goji berries, shredded coconut, etc.)
Directions:
- Add all ingredients for the smoothie bowl into the blender. I usually add a little liquid, the frozen fruits and veggies, then powders & seeds, and finally a little more liquid on top.
- Blend the ingredients together until smooth, transfer to a bowl, and add the toppings.
- Savor!
