These overflowing mounds of strawberries, bananas, kiwis, coconut flakes, and bits of granola drizzled with Nutella have consistently flooded your Instagram feeds this summer. And, no, they are not just overpriced fruit bowls, and they are not pronounced as “uh-kai” bowls, either -- they are acai bowls (pronounced “ah-sigh-ee”), and they have become one of the healthiest food trends to consume the diets of young foodies everywhere.
This trendy breakfast choice has boosted the popularity of tasty health-foods, as they have been added to the menus of countless New York City cafes and have attracted out-of-the-door lines at Jersey Shore acai shops.
Acai bowls are thickly blended acai berry smoothies with a variety of toppings, all poured into a bowl and enjoyed with a spoon. Grown in South and Central America, acai berries are only available in the U.S. as frozen-packaged puree mixtures and powders, which are decently difficult to find and purchase, and are only available at some health food stores, Whole Foods, Amazon, or online with leading producer, Sambazon. Acai berries are known for their super-food status and antioxidant value -- promoting healthy skin, a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, improving blood cholesterol, Vitamin C concentration, and an array of other nutritional benefits, according to the Global Healing Center website.
Most shops charge just under $10 for a bowl, as packages of four frozen packets go for just under $7-- acai bowls are not remotely a cheap meal, but with the sweet cravings that it satisfies and an ability to fill you up for hours after eating, it is arguably worth the try.
My personal experience with acai began at Kali-O’s Juice Box in Ortley Beach, N.J., at a small juice joint just walking distance away from the beach. The shop serves cold-pressed juices and other health foods, but is recognizable for their acai bowls and colorful presentation of a welcoming, beachy, fun, health-conscious environment.
Kali-O’s, Playa Bowls, and other acai-shops have dominated a fair share of the health food business at the Jersey Shore and have made a considerable impact on the dietary habits of daily beach-goers -- as post-beach day snacking has taken a turn from greasy funnel cakes and fried Oreos to refreshing cold-pressed juices and super-fruit bowls.
However, if topped with the wrong items, or even with too much of the right items for that matter, acai bowls can be packed with calories and tipped to the unhealthy side quite quickly, so it is important to utilize the health benefits of this trend with keeping your bowls simple and lean.
Next time you are craving something sweet and refreshing after a hot beach day, turn to an acai shop or even try blending your own smoothie bowl, but memorize the pronunciation before ordering.
It’s “Ah-sigh-ee,” not “uh-kai!"
