If you have ever visited the Jonah’s in Hawaii, you know that we ALWAYS have ice cream in our freezer.

For the past two months, there is no longer ice cream in our freezer.  NEVER, did I ever imagine we would be okay with that.  But all three of us are, and a little healthier because of it.

We were not looking to replace ice cream, We LOVE ice cream!  We could have been the poster family for ice cream.

Here’s how the unimaginable happened…

Not too long ago, we were in Hanalei picking up our carne asada taco order from Pat’s Taqueria, when Max asked if he could have an Acai Bowl from another nearby food truck.  Apparently he had one with his friend, Nainoa, there one day after a surfing playdate.  We watched him scarf down his bowl of purple stuff with bananas on top.  Then, whenever we were out, he would ask for an Acai Bowl.

I thought I better know what it was my young son had become so fond of, and here’s what I found…

Acai (pronounced, ah-sigh-ee) is a very special small purple berry from the Amazon (the rainforest, not the website).  A Brazilian palm fruit that is also a powerful little super food.  Brazilians have been eating a dish made purely of the berry’s pulp for centuries.

This little purple berry is packed full of antioxidants, omega-3s and amino acids.  These little guys outrank nearly any other super fruit on the planet; including pomegranates, blueberries and goji berries.

These beautifully hued sweet treats combat free radicals and are known to promote a healthy heart and healthy weight, along with slowing the body’s aging process.

They have become the base for the healthy and deliciously fresh Acai Bowl…no wonder all of us are hooked, and it has now replaced ice cream, as our staple dessert.

Whipping up your own a tasty and healthy Acai Bowl at home is quick and easy.  Here is how I make our Acai Bowls:

Easy Acai Bowl Recipe

Smoothie Ingredients:

• 1 Sambazon Acai Berry Smoothie Pack
• 1 Banana
• Pure fruit juice, soymilk, or water.  Just enough to blend, but not so much to make it runny. Start with a very small amount and go from there. *

Topping Ingredients:

• 1 Banana, sliced
• Granola
• Honey
• Fresh berries
• Dried coconut

Blend together smoothie ingredients until thick and smooth and pour into a bowl.  (* Just add more liquid to make a healthy acai smoothie).

Then top it with your favorite topping ingredients for texture.  You can be creative with your toppings.

Max likes just bananas with a drizzle of honey (like in the first pic above).  Michael likes his with just granola.  And me, I like the works, of course.

I buy the frozen Sambazon Acai Berry Smoothie Packs from our local Costco.  But, I am on the hunt to find pure frozen acai pulp here on Kauai (probably abundantly available on the mainland).  Once I find that source, I will replace the Sambazon Acai Berry Smoothie Pack with pure frozen acai pulp and 1 cup of frozen berries.  Cutting out some of the added natural sugars found in the packs I use now.

I must admit, I am feeling a little guilty about replacing our old friend, ice cream.  So I wrote this letter, and I do feel  a little better…

Dear Ice Cream,

Please know that we still love and appreciate you and all of your creamy deliciousness.  We hope that you are not too jealous that Acai Bowls have taken your place for our home treat.  We promise to still visit you from time-to-time. 

With Love and Aloha,

The Jonah’s…Joy, Michael & Max