You can enjoy an acai bowl any time of day — breakfast, lunch or dinner. In fact, snacking on a hearty bowl of frozen goodness like this one will leave you feel- ing happily full for hours while providing your muscles the nutrition they need. That’s because this chocolate almond coconut power acai bowl is loaded with fibre and protein — the perfect com- bination of nutrients to fill your belly without overdoing it. Acai bowls are meant to be thick and creamy, served in a bowl, and eaten with a spoon like ice cream. Try this recipe for yourself and see how easy it is to whip up one of these delicious snacks.

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT IT?

SWEET SUPERSTAR: Believe it or not, acai fruit pulp is even richer in anti- ageing antioxidants than cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries or blackberries, providing powerful protection against unwanted free radicals.

GOT WHEY: Round out your snack time with a heaping scoop of whey protein powder that fuels muscles and boosts fat loss.

CRAZY COCONUTS: Whether you like the pulp, juice, water or milk, you’ll reap the benefits of keep- ing coconut in your arsenal — that’s because coconut is packed with hydrating electrolytes, filling fibre and fats that keep your metabolism revving and heart healthy.

HYDRATION HEROES: Ditch your sports beverage for bananas — they have more potassium than any other fruit and are a great source of vitamins, minerals and fibre.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND COCONUT POWER AÇAI BOWL

Makes 1 large serving or 2 smaller servings

Ingredients:

2 packets of frozen acai berry pulp (unsweetened)
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder 1⁄2 cup chopped kale
1⁄2 frozen banana
1⁄4 cup light coconut milk

Toppings:

1⁄2 banana, sliced
2 teaspoons slivered almonds
2 teaspoons dark chocolate chips 2 teaspoons unsweetened shaved coconut

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients into a blender and mix until smooth, thick and creamy. The mix- ture should be very thick. If it’s too chunky, add a little bit more coconut milk. Pour into a bowl and top with sliced banana, almonds, chocolate chunks and coconut flakes. Enjoy with a spoon!

Nutrition facts (per 1 serving): calories 485, total fat 20 g, saturated fat 8 g, trans fat 0 g, protein 31 g, salt 146 mg, carbs 47 g, fibre 11 g, sugar 16 g

Fast fact: The sky’s the limit when it comes to acai bowl recipes. Try combining acai berry pulp with cooked oatmeal, adding your favourite fruit or experimenting with diferent milks.