Byrds of Paradise Ultimate Açaí Bowl

Clothing fads, music genres, and popular recipes are a few of the things that seem to frequently come and go. Today, açaí bowls are all the rage. Check out this Hawaiian-inspired Byrds of Paradise Açaí Bowl Recipe; we think it might just stand the taste of time!

Our açaí bowl recipe comes straight from the kitchen of Hannah Byrd, whose Hawaiian family vacation-inspired this recipe. After spending a week enjoying the gorgeous sunsets and cool night breezes, the Byrds brought a taste of the islands back to the east coast of Virginia.

Every summer, Hannah and her husband Ross Byrd spend their time running a stay-away teen surf camp in the outer banks of North Carolina. Healthy food isn't an option-- it's a necessity. Having the right fuel to keep campers happy and hydrated in the water is extremely important. So when the Byrd family found themselves enjoying the best açaí that Hawaii has to offer, they knew they needed to bring the idea back home.

For the Byrds, a healthy lifestyle is important year-round. Hannah homeschools her four kids full-time, and she and Ross fight hard to find snacks without processed sugars to feed their family. After the Byrds fell in love with the taste of acai, they reached out to a family friend and professional surfer Brett Barley. They tweaked Brett's personal açaí bowl recipe to perfectly suit their family of 6, and have enjoyed this easy and healthy acai bowl recipe ever since. Sometimes, Hannah says, they'll even have açaí bowls for dinner. So, what's all the hype about?

This nutrient-dense Brazilian superfruit has amazing health properties. Somewhat similar to blueberries, açaí berries are high in antioxidants. Rumor has it that this mysterious fruit also improves cholesterol levels, boosts brain function, and helps prevent certain types of cancer.

In particular, açaí bowls have become a trending item in health food restaurants all over the country. They're healthy, delicious, and simple. What's not to like? These acai bowls consist of a base derived from açaí berries and are topped with fruits like banana, strawberries, blueberries, and coconut flakes.

(Fun fact: The açaí bowl's rise in popularity has been credited to Carlos Gracie, a Brazilian Jujitsu martial artist. So if you eat enough of them, you might even become a world-class fighter...)

There are dozens of açaí bowl recipes all over the internet, and most of them follow a simple process. The ingredients for Hannah's vegan açaí bowl aren't anything new, but the added spinach gives her version an exciting green twist. Read on to learn about Hannah's iteration of this superfood smoothie bowl.

Having the right blender is critical for this quick and easy recipe. Without a decent blender, it takes much longer to find a satisfactory consistency for your açaí mix. If the only available blender is a low-powered one, then it's best to blend the spinach into the almond milk first. Afterward, add in the rest of the ingredients later. The Byrd family uses a refurbished Vitamix blender. Despite the additional cost, this high-quality blender paid itself off when Hannah realized smoothies made up a big part of her family's weekly diet. In Hannah's words, "It's been purely amazing."

"All of the toppings included in our açaí bowls taste great on oatmeal, too. Just mix in some chia seeds, honey, and cinnamon to the oats for another delicious snack. Or, you can even add everything right on top!"

The Byrds keep a tight ship when it comes to eating healthy and cutting back on unnecessary sugars. With four growing and energetic kids, this easy and healthy açaí bowl recipe has served them well all year-round. Especially in the summers, where they spend their time running a surf camp on the east coast. Give Hannah's recipe a try and let us know some of your favorite açaí bowl or smoothie toppings!