If you’ve never had an açaí (ah-sigh-ee) bowl, you’re missing out on a life-changing breakfast experience.

I first discovered açaí bowls in New York City at a juice bar. Juicing and smoothies are more popular than ever right now, and customers clad in lululemon were lined up to the door of the wheatgrass-scented shop to get their fix.

A traditional Brazilian breakfast, an açaí bowl is essentially a thick smoothie in a bowl made from açaí berries blended with a banana and milk, topped with your choice of granola, sliced bananas and extra goodies like shredded coconut or a spoonful of peanut butter.

Açaí berries are a type of fruit that come from the açaí palm tree in Central and South America.

Studies show that açaí berries are a powerful source of antioxidants and contain healthy fats and dietary fiber.

The only way to get açaí berries outside of their native region is in frozen puree form at the grocery store.

If you don’t have a blender, don’t worry. Nekter Juice Bar in Snider Plaza offers açaí bowls, along with smoothies and juices.

Recipe:

1 Sambazon Unsweetened Smoothie pack

½ a frozen banana

4 ounces non-dairy milk

Toppings:

½ cup granola

Sliced bananas

Blend the açaí together with the banana and the milk (be careful not to add too much milk or else it will come out watery). When everything is blended together and has a thick, creamy consistency, pour into a bowl and top with your favorite toppings!

Nutrition (approximated values):

120 calories

5 grams fat

0 grams sugar

4.5 grams fiber

Check out http://sambazon.com for more açaí bowl recipes!