I not only love an acai bowl, but I also love the ritual of going to a juice bar, ordering and eating an acai bowl, especially when we travel. As I have said before, there is a good chance that juice bar smoothie bowls are loaded with sugar – fructose to be exact. Their base primarily consists of blended bananas and berries, and sometimes even pineapple or mango, which just drives the sugar content higher. You may see avocado, kale, or spinach in the mix, and while this is a nutritional improvement, eating this type of meal with no other macronutrients (i.e. protein and fat) could still result in a blood sugar spike and crash, especially if the bowl is then topped with sugar-laden granola and more fruit.
Let me be clear – I still eat them, I simply treat them as a well, treat, rather than a meal that is on my regular menu. The acai bowls I make at home are much more blood sugar balancing. You would find banana and berries in the list of ingredients, along with frozen zucchini and cauliflower rice. A leafy green (such as kale or spinach) regularly makes an appearance, and I always incorporate a protein powder. But sometimes, making an acai bowl – even in a Vitamix – is more work than I am in the mood for. Enter this acai smoothie!
The main difference between a smoothie and smoothie bowl is that you sip rather than eat with a spoon. Some would argue (and I fall into this camp), that eating with a utensil increasingly encourages the mind-body connection with eating. Not only does the hand-to-mouth gesture signal to your brain that you are eating, but chewing is a mechanism through which your brain also gets the memo. Digestion starts in the mouth through both the physical breakdown of the food, as well as the generation of saliva, which contains enzymes to also assist in the digestive process. If you are drinking a smoothie, this is why it can be helpful to still “chew” every sip. I also love to add toppings to my smoothie for some chewing and crunch while/after you consume it. Toppings are perfect for this acai smoothie, since acai bowls almost always come with them.
The nutrition facts for this protein peanut butter vanilla acai smoothie
With almost 30 grams of protein (with toppings, it should exceed 30 grams), this smoothie makes for a perfect breakfast or post-workout refuel. It’s also high in fiber, upping its satiety factor. These nutrition facts do not include the toppings, so increase the protein and fiber content even further with hemp seeds, chia seeds, or your favorite homemade granola.
How to make this protein peanut butter vanilla acai smoothie
You will need a high-speed blender to make this smoothie. I have been a big fan of my Vitamix for over ten years, but ever since discovering the Beast Blender, I am obsessed. I can safely say – if you are someone who has seen this blender on Instagram as I did – that it is worth the hype. If aesthetics is something you care about, it also sits pretty atop your counter. The sleek and minimal design are like a siren song to daily smoothies. The resulting texture is smooth and creamy, and it makes perfectly portioned concoctions in under a minute. And you can drink right from the Beast’s blender cup! It is also great for making sauces, dips, and dressings.
Here are the ingredients you need to make this smoothie:
- Milk of choice (or water; I use half unsweetened almond milk and half filtered water)
- Frozen banana
- Frozen blueberries
- Frozen pre-sliced zucchini or cauliflower rice
- Vanilla protein powder of choice* (I use Be Well By Kelly brand)
- Peanut butter
- Acai powder (or a frozen acai packet; see recipe note)
*The other day, my postpartum mom brain got the best of me, and I accidentally used my chocolate protein powder instead of my vanilla. It was still delicious! Either flavor will do. You could also use two scoops of collagen instead (to yield the same amount of protein, since collagen usually contains half the amount of protein powder), but it is unflavored. I do think the vanilla/chocolate lends both flavor and sweetness to this smoothie. Some food for thought!
Protein Peanut Butter Vanilla Acai Smoothie
Equipment
- High-speed Blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened milk of choice or water
- 1/3 – 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup frozen pre-sliced zucchini or cauliflower rice
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1/2 – 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon acai powder or frozen acai packet; see note
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
