If you’re not familiar with açaí, or didn’t know you could make your own at home, now’s the time to learn about it. I don’t know about you, but I can never have enough healthy, easy snacks or breakfast ideas in the house. (Especially since I’m still not able to stand long enough to cook real meals yet. Soon though!) I first learned about these frozen açaí packets in Jessica Murnane’s new e-book appropriately titled, A Year of Breakfast. (It’s $9.99 and worth every penny; homegirl knows her stuff.) But before we talk about what to do with it, let’s back up for a second.
What the heck is açaí?
Pronounced “ah-sigh-EE,” it’s a delicious deep purple berry that resembles a large blueberry found growing on tall, slender palm trees in the Amazon Region, where it has been consumed in the form of a pulp (purée) for centuries by natives and river dwellers. Many describe the taste as a vibrant blend of berries with chocolate. The açaí berry is often credited for giving the people in the Amazon their strength and energy and keeping them healthy. Described as a complete food, for it satisfies many daily requirements and makes for a balanced diet, açaí is probably one of the healthiest fruits on the planet. It may help your muscles, your heart, your digestion, and your energy levels.
Read even more of its benefits on amafruits’ website.
I got the organic acai pure and unsweetened which has zero grams of sugar. ZERO. I am of the belief that sugar is the devil, not only because it turns to fat but also because it causes inflammation. Lord knows my rheumatoid arthritis doesn’t need any more triggers than my body gives it naturally. So sugar and I are not friends. But that’s cool because this açaí bowl, like many other naturally-sweetened treats I’ve made, is still sweet. Really! Yesterday I topped it with some coconut flakes because that’s what I had at home, but this weekend I plan to have it with some grain-free granola. A little crunch is a great balance to its smooth coldness. You can also have it as a drink or smoothie; the iterations are endless!
Add to that how easy it is: frozen packets, delivered right to your home, that take minutes to turn into breakfast or a snack… and you’re sold, right? Let this be the end of paying astronomical prices for the restaurant/store-bought açaí bowl; it’s time to get down with açaí… made at home.
