Apparently 2016 was the year of the Buddha Bowl. I hadn’t come across the fancy name until much later but I’ve been enjoying the concept of throwing together random veggies from my fridge into one bowl for a long time.

I’ve also seen the Buddha Bowl described as a Macro Bowl or a Nourish Bowl. I think I’m partial to Nourish Bowl, since that’s exactly what it is. A nourishing combination of life-giving foods in one easy to eat bowl.

The premise is very simple and incredibly healthy. In one ready-to-go bowl you combine a colorful variety of veggies along with some starch, protein, and healthy fat. A perfectly balanced and nutrient-dense meal.

We eat Nourish Bowls at least a few times a week in my house. The best part about these bowls is you can easily mix and match ingredients with foods you have on hand. I also like to mix it up with ingredients that are in season, so my winter bowls will end up looking different from my summer bowls.

Lunch is served!

Nourish Bowl Ingredients

It’s super simple to pull together your own Nourish Bowl. Simply choose at least one item from each of the categories listed below and “voila” your bowl is ready to be enjoyed!

Greens: These are the base of your bowl and can be cooked or raw (romaine, spinach, kale, arugula, dandelion, etc)

Colorful Veggies: Since I LOVE all things rainbow, see if you can’t choose something from every color group (I like to mix up my raw veggies with roasted or sauteed veggies and don’t be afraid to throw in some fermented or pickled veggies too)

Starch: Choose a whole grain or starchy vegetable (I like wild rice, quinoa, farro, roasted sweet potato or squash)

Protein: This can be plant or animal based (beans, lentils, chicken, salmon, hard-boiled egg, nuts, seeds)

Healthy Fat: My favorites include avocado, nuts, seeds, olives, homemade dressing

Nourish Bowls make a perfect lunch and can easily be prepped ahead of time in glass containers or mason jars so you can have a satisfying, delicious, and nourishing meal anywhere.

Admittedly it does take some time to wash and chop all those veggies. But I actually kind of enjoy the mindfulness of  it. I suggest prepping ahead in batches as much as possible so the ingredients are ready-to-go and can easily be thrown together when you’re ready to eat something.

The most important thing is to make it your own and make it delicious! That way you’ll want to eat it and you’ll look forward to the next one.

As we all strive to get more colorful plants in our diet, Nourish Bowls offer an easy and tasty way to do just that.