Acai Bowl

Serves 1 or 2

HERE IS ANOTHER LOVE OF MINE! Acai is a berry with powerful antioxidants that also happens to be delicious, especially in this pudding-like breakfast (or anytime) snack. When purchasing acai berry purée, make sure it is unsweetened, as many brands add a ton of sugar. I like to mix my daily powdered vitamins and extra vitamin C powder into the blend and, sometimes, some bovine collagen powder, just to really make this into an anti-inflammatory power meal.

For toppings, I like blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, coconut flakes, cacao nibs, and some coconut nondairy yogurt. Although they are nightshades, I sometimes add a few dried goji berries, which don’t seem to bother me. For you, get creative and go for whatever toppings and fruits make you smile and feel well. This is your bowl!

1 cup organic frozen fruit of any kind—especially berries

1½ frozen bananas, peeled

1 (3- to 5-ounce) package unsweetened acai purée (if frozen, hold under warm water for 3 minutes and break up by hand before opening)

¼ cup frozen organic blueberries

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 date, pitted

¼ cup liquid (your choice of water, juice, Homemade Hemp Milk (here), or other unsweetened nondairy milk of choice) or nondairy yogurt

Suggested toppings: unsweetened shredded coconut, goji berries (if you tolerate them), fresh blueberries, sliced banana, strawberries, and/or peaches, blackberries, cacao nibs, raisins or nuts (if you’re not eating Pure), or whatever else you can imagine

Put all the fruit (except toppings) in a high-speed blender. Add the liquid or yogurt and blend until the mixture is a creamy, thick consistency. Pour into a large bowl and top with your choice of goodies.

I THOUGHT YOU SAID “NO NUTS AND SEEDS”

If you are eagle-eyed, you may have noticed that I said this chapter contains no nuts or seeds, but sometimes you will see things like hemp milk or other nondairy milks, which might include almond milk, hazelnut milk, flax milk, or something similar. The reason I don’t include nuts and seeds in this chapter is because they are very difficult to digest. When puréed and made into milk, however, the indigestible parts are filtered out, so these nut and seed milks are just fine when you are eating Pure.