Buddha Bowls Are Delicious AF And Good For You Too
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What’s so cool about Buddha bowls? They’re basically vessels packed so full of healthy ingredients, to the point where they have a rounded “belly” appearance on the top, just like the belly of the spiritual guru himself. There are really no guidelines when it comes to building a Buddha bowl. You can get as creative as possible while trying to keep the bowl nutritionally balanced and focused on key macronutrients, like complex carbs, healthy fats and lean proteins.
As long as your Buddha bowl has some form of these three components, you can add whatever you want to spice it up and make it your own. Legumes are a huge part of this trend so don’t skimp on the edamame and be generous with the hummus. Roasted sweet potatoes, butternut squash and eggplant are always gratifying. You can sprinkle your favorite herbs and spices on top and even drizzle on some of your go-to dressings, like a pesto or sesame sauce, to tie all of the flavors together.
Complex carbs, AKA the good kind of carbs, consist of three or more sugars and they’re rich in fiber. Some examples of complex carbs are beans (lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans), whole grains (buckwheat, brown rice, oats, quinoa) and all kinds of raw or roasted fruits and vegetables. Complex carbs can keep your body fueled, help with digestion and aid in weight loss.
For the healthy fats component of your Buddha bowl, look no further than the ever-so-humble avocado, which gives you about 40 percent of your daily fiber. Walnuts are one of the best sources of Omega-3 fatty acids and other nuts like almonds, cashews and pistachios are packed with lots of healthy fats and Vitamin E. Depending on whether your Buddha bowl is savory or sweet, you could add a two-tablespoon serving of any nut or seed butter. Olives, flaxseed and olive oil are also ideal sources of healthy fat.
Lean protein, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines as meat with less than 10 grams of total fat, is also a big part of making a Buddha bowl. Ideal sources of lean protein are white meat from chicken or turkey, salmon, lean cuts of beef like sirloin and lean cuts of pork like tenderloin. Quinoa can double dip as a protein and a complex carb.
You could try a peanut and chicken Buddha bowl with roasted broccoli, carrots, chickpeas, spinach, brown rice, sesame oil and a peanut sauce. Maybe get tropical and make a bowl with citrusy shrimp, coconut curry sauce, pineapple, cabbage, quinoa, Craisins and any other veggies you think would fit. Or, roast some sweet potatoes and chickpeas with smoked paprika and cinnamon, cook up some farro, pork tenderloin, any other vegetables and sprinkle lemon juice, salt, pepper and tahini on top. Whatever floats your boat.
Not only are Buddha bowls the perfect way to combine all of your daily nutrients in one place, but they’re beautiful too. Oh, and they’re the perfect way to satisfy your food photography cravings. It’s time to embrace the Buddha bowl in your life.
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