Acai Bowls: Masters of Manipulation

Have you ever been scrolling through your Instagram or Facebook feed, and you see someone’s post a picture of what looks like a stunning bowl of purple yogurt topped with fruit, granola, and a drizzle of some kind on top? You were probably looking at an acai bowl. Acai bowls are a Brazilian specialty and are made with the acai fruit. The fruit is usually made into a smoothie and then topped with fruit, granola, and some sort of sweet sauce. At first, they were perceived as healthy because of the fruit smoothie and the fruits on top. But in fact, they are filled with sugar and are very fattening. After looking at the nutrition facts from different acai bowl spots around me, they range from 30 to 60 grams of sugar depending on toppings. While they are packed with sugar, not all of them are the same. If you get just the acai with some fruit and no granola and drizzle, all the sugar is natural sugar. It is from fruits and whatever liquid is used. I want to believe that they are all over my social media for a good reason but I know that it is a lie. They look beautiful and taste amazing but are very bad for you, as most good things are. There are ways to make your acai bowls better nutrition wise. For starters, instead of a sweet drizzle, use peanut butter which is packed with protein and healthy fats. Also, instead of granola, use chia seeds. Chia seeds are a great source of calcium, healthy fats, protein, fiber, and antioxidants.
The bottom line is, acai bowls are not good for you no matter how beautiful they look. Of course, everything in moderation is how you lead a healthy life but an excess of acai bowls can mean an excess of weight gain. If you are going to eat one, however, replace some of the toppings for healthier and more protein and fiber packed options such as peanut butter and chia seeds. Do not get tempted by its beauty, acai bowls could be the reason your pants do not fit anymore.