Pomegranates come to us from southeast Europe and Asia.
The acai berry comes from a species of palm tree found in Central and South America. Its pulp contains fiber, healthy fats, plant sterols, minerals and amino acids. Unfortunately, the berry's health benefits quickly deteriorate after being harvested.
For this smoothie recipe, I used Ocean Spray Cran-Pomegranate juice drink because it is low in cost and easy to find in grocery stories. You can find pomegranate juice in most "natural" food sections, but be prepared to spend two or three times as much as the Ocean Spray brand, and read the label: You may find a blend of other juices in greater concentration than the pomegranate. As an alternative, you can purchase a whole pomegranate fruit and eat the seeds -- a bit of work, and a little messy, but delicious in taste.
I found Belizza acai banana fruit sorbet in the Nature's Marketplace section of Wegmans. Different acai sorbets are available, but I chose this one because it contains just 1 gram of fat per 4-ounce serving. Belizza also lists the acai berry as the first ingredient.
6 ounces skim milk
1/2 cup crushed ice
1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup cran-pomegranate juice drink
1/2 cup acai banana fruit sorbet
1 tablespoon honey
Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into four glasses. Garnish with your favorite fruit spiked on a toothpick. Makes four 6 1/2-ounce servings.
Calories = 115.
Fat = 1 gram.
Carbohydrates = 21 grams.
Protein = 3 grams.
Fiber = 3 grams.
Cholesterol = 2.5 milligrams.
Sodium = 35 milligrams.