I was in Phoenix a few weeks ago speaking at a female entrepreneur event when I found a cute smoothie shop called Neckar on my morning walk. I gulped down one of the best-on-the-go smoothies I’d had in a while and it inspired me to semi re-create it at home.

I used to use acai often but for some reason had completely forgotten about it — for like two years!

Acai (or açai, pronounced \ˌä-ˌsä-ˈē, -sī-ˈē\ [in layman’s terms “ass-eye-ee” with a soft c]) is a tropical super-fruit. The name alone was one of the hottest buzzwords in health few years ago when it hit the US market, and for good reason.

Acai is one of the most antioxidant rich foods on the planet.

It contains:

• extra concentrated anitoxidants
• healthy fats, similar to those found in olive oil
• fiber
• phytosterols
• essential amino acids
• trace minerals

There’s not as much hype around acai these days, but it’s still just as good for you. It’s also delicious.

If you’d like to learn more, check out the book The Perricone Promise by Nicholas Perricone, MD. It’s an oldie but goodie and great for your health book collection.

A few recipe notes:

Acai: I buy the unsweetened Sambazon frozen acai packs at my natural grocer; they’re decently priced and keep for months in the freezer. They have a few varieties and I always try to get the unsweetened ones so I can control the sweetness of my smoothie. I add a little raw honey here for extra enzymes and sweetness, but if you buy the regular packs just omit the honey to be mindful of your sugar intake.

Cashews: Be sure they are raw so you get the maximum health benefits. Also, you are essentially making your own cashew milk in this recipe by blending the raw cashews and purified water. (Cashew milk is the only nut milk that you don’t need to strain to remove the pulp.) The flavor & texture of the cashew milk is extra good here, but you can also substitute any other raw nut milk for the cashews and water if you’d like.

Also, I love the flavor and texture of banana in my smoothies, but some people really don’t care for it. If that’s you, just use avocado, or if you have both on hand use half the amount of each.

Acai Green Smoothie Recipe

Time: less than 5 minutes
Serves 1

• 1/2 pack of unsweetened Sambazon frozen acai juice
• 2 very large handfuls of washed baby spinach
• 1 small banana or 2 tablespoons avocado (or half each)
• 3 tablespoons raw cashews (remember raw, no salt, not roasted & preferrably organic)
• 1 cup purified water (plus more if needed)
• about a teaspoon of raw honey, to taste
• 4-5 ice cubes
• optional: 1 teaspoon chia seeds if you have them on hand

Method: Blend all ingredients together in a high-speed blender. Serve immediately.

Simple Green Acai Smoothie

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• Author: Elizabeth Rider
• Prep Time: Less than 5 minutes
• Total Time: 55 minute
• Yield: Serves 1

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Ingredients

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• 1/2 pack of unsweetened Sambazon frozen acai juice
• 2 very large handfuls of washed baby spinach
• 1 small banana or 2 tablespoons avocado (or half each)
• 3 tablespoons raw cashews (remember raw, no salt, not roasted & preferrably organic)
• 1 cup purified water (plus more if needed)
• about a teaspoon of raw honey, to taste
• 4–5 ice cubes
• optional: 1 teaspoon chia seeds if you have them on hand

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Instructions

Blend all ingredients together in a high-speed blender. Serve immediately.

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