Jamba Juice is catching on to the newest craze. Smoothie Bowls. They call them Energy Bowls.
Jamba Juice Acai Bliss Energy Bowl
I get the Jamba Juice promotions via email. Last week I had a coupon for 50% off an Energy Bowl. They retail for $5 (yikes!) so I was happy to give it a try at 50% off. It was good. Not like my previous experience with smoothie bowls.
A few months ago I tried to make one at home, inspired by this cool food blog Green Kitchen Stories. Eh..... I didn't see what the fuss was about. Its basically a thick smoothie in a bowl. It seemed weird to consume a "smoothie" like cold soup when I'm accustomed to drinking it out of a cup with a straw (here's where my husband give me a figurative wrist slap for polluting the planet by using straws).
But now smoothie bowls are picking up steam and I think its time to revisit this.
Acai (pronounced ah-SIGH-ee) is a berry found in South American Rainforests and, according to what I've read, is packed full of anti-oxidants and other healthy stuff. We can't just get a carton of it as if they were blueberries. A company called Sambazon (SAM-ba-zon) purees it and sells it in frozen, unsweetened packs or as part of pre-made smoothies and other products. The smoothie packs aren't cheap. $6 for a pack of 4 - 4.5 oz packs. Find them in freezer section at your local health food store, co-op or Whole Foods.
Yesterday I was starving. I needed a snack. So I thought I'd give the smoothie bowl another try.
My Acai Bliss Smoothie Bowl
Oh man, it was good. I felt spoiled. Like I was back in California or Europe. The added chunks of fruit and muesli make the difference. Without them it would still be just a plain old smoothie in a bowl. No big whup. Here's what I did.
Acai Smoothie Bowl (makes 2)
1 pack of Sambazon Acai Berry (unsweetened)
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 C- 3/4 C frozen mixed berries
1/4 C (approx) organic apple juice
Combine the ingredients above in a blender until smooth. Pour into bowls. Top with sliced bananas, blueberries, strawberries, muesli, nuts and a sprinkle of hemp seed.
I like the smoothie bowls because no matter how hard I try, I just can't get on board with drinking my meals. I never feel satisfied even though I am drinking a nut butter laden protein enhanced 350 calorie bomb. BUT when I put it in a bowl with a sprinkle of granola on top, much better. However, 400 calories = total fail. Can't do that either.
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