Eating Out with Kids

Acai smoothie bowls are a great thing to serve at a casual restaurant. They appeal to the "healthy" crowd. They're good for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. And they're also fairly easy for your kitchen staff to make. However, it's easy to hit a wall with acai bowls and feel like you're out of ideas for making new ones. If you're in that boat, here are some acai bowl recipes to consider adding to your menu.

Kiwi Strawberry Acai Bowl

Kiwi strawberry has always been a common flavor for juices and candy. But for some reason, people often don't think of including kiwis in smoothie recipes. So, customers are sure to be impressed by this option on the menu. To make the acai smoothie portion of the bowl, combine the following in a blender:

• 1/2 cup frozen kiwi slices
• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup frozen acai berries
• 3/4 cup oat milk
• 1/2 cup apple juice

Puree the above ingredients until smooth, and then pour the resulting smoothie into the bowl. Top your smoothie bowl with some sliced kiwi and strawberries, and then perhaps with a drizzle of strawberry syrup. You can sprinkle on some toasted oats or granola if you think your customers want a more filling bowl.

Chocolate Banana Acai Bowl

This acai bowl feels so rich and indulgent that you could serve it as a dessert. But surprisingly, it's not all that unhealthy and actually contains a lot of nutrient-dense ingredients. Start by combining these ingredients in a blender:

• 1 frozen banana
• 2 tablespoons chocolate hazelnut spread
• 1/2 cup frozen acai berries
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 3/4 cup skim milk
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds

Blend all of the ingredients together. The mixture should get smooth and creamy. The chia seeds should keep it pretty thick even as it warms up a little. Top your smoothie bowl with some sliced banana and a small drizzle of chocolate sauce. Your customers are in for a treat.

Five-Berry Smoothie Bowl

You've heard of three-berry smoothie bowls, but what about five-berry smoothie bowls? This one will get a lot of attention on the menu simply because people love berries. Add the following to your blender:

• 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/4 cup frozen blackberries
• 1/4 cup frozen raspberries
• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup acai berries
• 1/2 cup skim milk or almond milk
• 1 cup apple juice

Blend the ingredients together, and then pour them into a bowl. You can just garnish this one with a couple of each kind of berry.

With these acai smoothie bowls on your menu, customers are sure to be pleased.