Published: 13:01 BST, 22 August 2026 | Updated: 13:02 BST, 22 August 2026
It's the colorful breakfast trend dominating the wellness world.
Acai bowls have emerged in the last few years as an easy and customizable way to consume vitamins, antioxidants and protein to meet diet and fitness goals.
However, not all acai bowls are created equal. With cafes and coffee shops on every corner selling colorful bowls, and a mountain of possible ingredients in stores to make your own, it's easy to accidentally load up on more calories and sugar than essential nutrients.
A restaurant bowl may contain high-sugar juices and pre-sweetened toppings like granola.
Added sweeteners like syrups, honey and table sugar are also common, raising blood sugar and gradually increasing the risk of conditions like diabetes and obesity.
Even when constructing your own bowl, it's all too easy to go overboard on portion size, nearing half a day's worth of calories in just one breakfast.
And not all fruits carry the same health halo. While bananas often come standard, for example, they lack the crucial fiber in berries and pack on additional calories.
But with the right ingredients, acai bowls can still be a low-calorie part of a balanced diet. Now, dietitians have revealed to the Daily Mail how to build the perfect acai bowl at home.
Acai bowls have gained a perceived 'health halo' in recent years. However, dietitians have warned that they can be high in calories and sugar
Acai is a dark purple berry that comes from the acai palm tree native to tropical Central and South America. It is largely celebrated for its rich variety of antioxidants, which can reduce inflammation and improve cholesterol levels.
'Acai bowls are a perfect example of why I encourage people to look beyond whether a food is labeled “healthy” and instead ask: How is this meal going to support my blood sugar, energy, and fullness?' Priscilla Swahn, registered dietitian specializing in hormones and thyroid health, told the Daily Mail.
'Acai itself can absolutely be part of a nutritious diet. The problem is that some bowls contain multiple concentrated sources of carbohydrates and sugar while providing very little protein or healthy fat to balance them.'
Lindsay Malone, instructor and clinical dietitian at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, told the Daily Mail that the key to the perfect acai bowl is making it at home. In a restaurant, they may contain fruit juice with added sweetener and preservatives, along with pre-sweetened toppings like granola and dried fruit.
'Individually, many of these foods offer nutritional value. However, when they are combined in large portions, the bowl can become surprisingly high in total calories and sugar without much protein,' she said.