By Abbey Susel, Student Nutritionist Who doesn't love a good acai bowl? Ever since these cold, refreshing, and seemingly harmless smoothie bowls took the internet by storm with their vibrant colors and assortment of toppings, they've been a hit. With a location just outside of campus, Playa Bowls has been supplying UMD students with their smoothie bowl fix. But... let's take a deeper look at these sweet treats and see what's making them so irresistible. What is an Acai Bowl?
Health Benefits (Per Serving)
Foods are given an Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) score based on their antioxidant quality/quantity. The higher the score, the higher the antioxidant capacity of a food. A 100g serving of acai pulp received a score of 15,405, whereas the same size serving of blackberries received a score of 4,669. Under Investigation...Despite the nutrient content of the smoothie bowl base, along with the fruit on top, acai bowls may not be as bright as they appear... Blood Sugar Spike Because these bowls are served cold, they melt quickly in the summer sun. Quick melting usually results in quick eating, unless you're hoping for fruit soup! Eating smoothie bowls quickly can spike your blood sugar levels due to the high level of natural and added sugars in the bowl. Such a spike may lead to a burst of high energy, followed by a comedown of drowsiness, headache, and irritability in the afternoon... not so sweet anymore! The Fix? - Avoid the brain freeze and slow it down a bit. This will also help you recognize fullness cues and manage portion control. Sugar, sugar, oh honey, honey While fructose--sugar from fruits--is a good-for-you, natural sugar, there is often more than fructose hiding in your bowl. Many shops blend their bases with fruit juices, adding unnecessary sugars. On top of that, granola, honey, and coconut flakes put the cherry on top of this smoothie bowl sundae. The Fix? - Opt out of honey/agave on top of your bowl. If you're willing to part with it, consider skipping the coconut or granola too. - Build your own bowl! At home, you're in control of what goes into your bowl. Look for unsweetened acai packs in the frozen fruit aisle for your base, and mix with a splash of milk instead of fruit juice. Plus, this way you'll be able to control your portion size. Portion Overload Ah, the dreaded serving size. One bowl is sold as one serving, but many times, these bowls are massive. Because they're so darn yummy and refreshing, it's easy to spoon the entire bowl into your mouth without realizing it. Yet, one bowl often reaches 400-900 calories, especially if you're adding a nut butter in/on it. The Fix? - We all know the best bites of the bowl are the ones that include base and toppings. Eat a nice layer of the bowl, getting toppings in every bite, and then look at your almost-soupy leftover base sitting in the bowl. Are you still hungry? Will this fill you up, or should you opt for a snack with more protein? - Split an acai bowl with a friend! The Final WordIf Playa Bowls is your favorite off-campus treat, don't fret. Just like all other favorite treats, smoothie bowls are meant to be enjoyed in moderation. Follow the tips above, and google your favorite smoothie shop's menu online--they likely have nutrition information on there somewhere. Here's Playa Bowls' nutrition info to get you started.
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ABOUTTerps With Taste is run by the Student Nutritionist Team with University of Maryland Dining Services. We write content for students, by students. Enjoy! Categories
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