I’m spending the next week sifting through my cookbook manuscript, making lots of edits and putting the finishing touches on it. I really love working on it – and cannot wait to share it with all of you  – but know I’ll need some serious brain food for the week ahead. Enter this super easy chia pudding and acai bowl recipe.

I call this acai smoothie my everyday smoothie on crack. It’s packed with my favorite protein powder, antioxidant rich acai and blueberries, and lots of healthy fats. We need healthy fats for our bodies to function optimally (or at all really!) and especially our brain. I always kick-up the healthy fats when I know I’ll be using a lot of brain power. Chia pudding also transforms this breakfast into a satisfying bowl – rather than a smoothie that you gulp down in just a couple of sips. Both healthy fats and chia seeds help keep you full longer, which means less time spent running between my computer and fridge snacking and more time crossing things off the to-do list!

I like my bowls without any added sweetener but you can definitely add whatever sweetener you like or blend the smoothie with coconut water for some added sweetness!

 

 

vanilla chia + berry acai bowl
Ingredients
Serves 2

Vanilla Chia Pudding

  • 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 3 tablespoons chia seeds

Acai Smoothie 

  • 1 package of frozen unsweetened acai puree (you can also use Pitaya)
  • 1 serving of your favorite plant-based protein (I use this one)
  • 1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries
  • 1/2 small avocado
  • 1 tablespoon coconut butter or coconut oil
  • Handful of ice
  • Dash of cinnamon
  • Water or unsweetened plant-milk, to blend
  • Sweetener of choice, optional

Toppings: sliced fruit (kiwis and strawberries), goji berries, hemp hearts, and coconut flakes.

Method

For the chia pudding: Combine the almond milk and chia seeds in a jar and shake well. Put in the fridge for 30 minutes, shake again, and put back in the fridge for a few hours or until chia seeds have expanded. Stir well.

For the acai smoothie: Add all ingredients to the blender plus just enough liquid to blend and blend until smooth. The vanilla protein powder makes the smoothie sweet but depending on what protein you use you may want to add some honey or stevia for sweetness.

To assemble: Add a couple big scoops of chia pudding to one side of a bowl and then a nice pour of smoothie on the other side. Repeat in a second bowl and top with kiwi, strawberries, goji berries, hemp hearts, and coconut flakes. Enjoy!