Breakfast Time - Acai Bowl

This beautiful, delicious Acai Bowl could very easily be mistaken for dessert. It is truly almost like having ice cream. But it is actually super healthy and pretty much a thick smoothie in a bowl. Apparently these are fairly popular in more tropical locations like Brazil. I for one have never had the pleasure of experiencing them in their native local, but I am glad to be able to recreate them at home and maybe one day I will get to try the real thing.

I mentioned Acai in my post on Super Duper Super Foods. I share the Beet Acai Overnight Oatmeal that I made recently for breakfast which made me want to continue exploring this purple powder's delicious breakfast abilities. When I spotted these beauties on Pinterest I knew I had to recreate one (follow my Breakfast Time board to see what is catching my eye these days in the breakfast world).

My picture doesn't do it justice, but trust me when I say it is good. Here's what I put in it:

two hand fulls of kale (any green will do)

1 cup almond milk (any milk will do)

1 tsp cacao powder

2 Tbsp chia seeds

2 Tbsp acai powder

1 tsp hemp powder

1/4 avocado

1/2 frozen banana and 1/2 cup frozen blueberries

Throw all of that in the blender until creamy and split between two bowls (or cut in half if you aren't sharing breakfast with anyone). I topped with extra sliced bananas, bee pollen and goji berries. Such a treat!

I'm realizing that my posts have been heavily focused on breakfast so far. I think it's because I usually plan out my breakfast the night before and make it once the kids are all busy eating so it's easy to stop and take a picture and pay attention to measurements. My other meals get thrown together in the busyness of the day so I don't always stop to capture them. I will try to make an effort to share some more of my lunches and dinners as well as snacks so you can get a well-rounded picture of what my eating looks like right now. 

Breakfast Time - Beet Acai Overnight Oatmeal

Overnight mason jar breakfasts - hopefully you are as into them as I am because I am sure you will be seeing them appear over and over here. They are so ridiculously convenient and diverse not to mention that I am a complete sucker for the aesthetic appeal of having my breakfast in a mason jar. Last time I shared a version with matcha and blueberries (check it out HERE). The bright green was fun and I loved the earthy flavor. This time I am sharing something that is completely different but equally delicious. A bright purple Beet Acai Overnight Oatmeal. Isn't it a stunning color?

Here's the recipe as I made it. I split it between two jars to share with my husband. You can see it makes a pretty wimpy serving when split so feel free to put the whole thing in one jar and eat it all up yourself if you are hungry. I'm pretty sure I had a hard boiled egg or two later to tide me over until lunch. Do what works for you!

1 c Old Fashioned Oats

2/3 c Greek Yogurt (I use plain)

2/3 c cashew milk (any milk would do)

1/3 c roasted beet puree*

1 Tbsp Acai powder

1 Tbsp Chia seeds

Mix the above in a bowl and put in a mason jar (or two depending on how much you want in 1 serving). Store in the fridge overnight. In the morning it will be thickened up and ready to eat. I topped mine with 1 Tbsp goji berries and 1 Tbsp chopped walnuts. You may also want honey if you prefer something sweet. My husband was taken aback at it's bright purple color and was expecting something extremely sweet which this is definitely not. You could also use a vanilla flavored yogurt to sweeten it up a bit if you want.

*Want to know how to make beet puree? I don't buy beets all that often but I did receive some in my Bountiful Basket and when they start popping up at the farmer's markets I will buy them from time to time. This is pretty much the only way I use beets because I have found way more uses for it in puree form than whole. Here's what I do:

1) Trim the top and bottom off the beet (save those greens, they are great for throwing into green smoothies!) and give it a rinse. 

2) Wrap the beets in foil and place on a roasting tray.

3) Roast at 425 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour, or when you can pierce through the biggest beet easily with a fork.

4) Let cool and then puree in a food processor until smooth. You may have to add a little water to help it along, just do it in small amounts so it doesn't get to runny.

5) Portion it out and store in freezer. Great in smoothies, oatmeal, brownies, pancakes, etc.

Here's what it looks like all blended up:

Do you like beets? How do you use them?

Super Duper Super Foods

I am not just on this journey to shed the pounds. Clearly, being morbidly obese {ouch...I hate even typing that} it is NECESSARY for me to lose weight. But more than that I really want to heal my body and feed it well. I want to not just eat to live, but eat to live the fullest, healthiest life possible. I think that most everything we need to be nourished properly has been provided by God in nature. That is why I am trying my best to work towards a way of eating that includes mostly clean, unprocessed foods. It won't happen overnight. But I am taking baby steps to get there.

I am totally fascinated by all the super foods and what they do for your health. There are all the run of the mill super foods - spinach, blueberries, almonds, salmon, etc. All delicious, great for you and easily accessible. And then there are the more exotic super foods. Ones that, until recently, aren't as well known or accessible. Of course many are becoming trendy and well known so it is easier and more affordable to get your hands on these power packed goodies.  In the last few weeks I ordered a handful of these super duper super foods and wanted to share with you what they are and why they are beneficial. Be looking for upcoming posts featuring these different ingredients. We are using them in all kinds of fun, delicious ways!

What are they and why are they good for you?

Acai Powder: First of all, it's pronounced uh-sigh-ee. Yes, I said it wrong forever too. Acai is a small, dark purple berry of a palm tree that grows throughout the tropical regions of Central and South America. It has a flavor that's somewhere between chocolate and wild berries, and its abundant (and super healthy) omega fatty acid content gives acai a unique and creamy texture. Acai has a high antioxidant profile as well as protein and fiber which help to keep you feeling full throughout your day. Some potential benefits include battling free radicals, cardiovascular health, and digestive health.

Bee Pollen: Bee Pollen is made by honeybees, and is the food of the young bee. It is considered one of nature's most completely nourishing foods as it contains nearly all nutrients required by humans. Bee-gathered pollens are rich in proteins (approximately 40% protein), free amino acids, vitamins, including B-complex, and folic acid. It is more rich in proteins than any animal source. Potential benefits include digestive health, combats fatigue, helps asthma and allergies, and increases energy. These need to be slowly introduced, especially to children, because they may cause an allergic reaction at a certain dosage.

Chia Seeds: Chia seeds have long been a staple in the diets of the Mayans and Aztecs. They are considered super because they deliver a maximum amount of nutrients with a minimum amount of calories. The nutritional benefits of chia include fiber, omega fatty acids, calcium, antioxidants, and protein. Because they absorb up to 12 times their own weight, they are great for curbing appetite and keeping you full. Their health benefits include increasing energy, aiding in digestive health, and helping cholesterol levels.

Goji Berries: Goji berries grow on an evergreen shrub found in temperate and subtropical regions in China, Mongolia and in the Tibetan Himalayas. They have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Goji berries are rich in amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins. They are said to be beneficial for protecting and enhancing eyesight, protecting the liver, improving sexual function and fertility, improving circulation and even slowing the growth of cancer cells.

Hemp Powder: Hemp powder is a type of protein powder that is used by many as a nutritional supplement. The seeds of the hemp plant are ground up into a course powder. While they are harvested from marijuana plants, they do not contain any THC. It has a very earthy taste that may not be pleasant to some but is easily masked in smoothies and other foods. In addition to beneficial amounts of protein, the powder also contains a balance of “good” fats, namely omega 3, omega 6, and omega 9. Not many foods contain all three essential fatty acids in such an ideal balance. Hemp powder also contains a good amount of fiber and several other essential minerals, such as manganese and magnesium. This super food is beneficial for brain functioning, stimulating skin and hair growth, regulating metabolism, among other things.

I didn't add Matcha to this list because I bought it separately and posted about it the other day. You can read more about that HERE.

Any of these super foods can easily be found in a health food store. I personally buy mine on Amazon because it is easy to get it all in one quick, easy shipment. I can't wait to share with you some of the great ways we have been adding these to our foods. Stay tuned!

**I am not a medical professional so none of this information is meant to be taken as medical advice. Please do your own research before adding new foods to your diet and consult with your physician if you have any questions as to how it will affect your overall health.**