Buddha bowls are a powerhouse packed with nourishing comfort foods that will fill your belly and soul. They are an abundance of  healthy goodness piled in a single bowl.  These beautiful bowls will make you appreciate a way of eating is thought to be “ideal” for reducing toxins in the body and lowering your risk of chronic diseases. These bountiful bowls are similar to macrobiotic aka macro bowls in that the  preparation and presentation  stems from the roots of the eating principles of Chinese and Japanese medicine and include raw or roasted veggies, beans, healthy whole grains , like brown rice, farro or quinoa, and sometimes fish, with every meal. Budda bowls are an illustration of clean eating at its finest. Each powerful ingredient is beneficial and jammed packed with nutrients. Not only do these bowls fill you up, but they help  ease constipation and promote healthy bacteria growth in our bellies! Sounds like a  Win – Win – Win situation to me.   

Make Your Own Budda Bowl

It’s so simple to make and the best part is there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to make a Budda bowl. Here are some ideas to make a  well-balanced, more-rounded, mouth watering bowl. Let TASTE and VARIETY be your guide. Your possibilities can be endless if you try to follow the basic formula of grain + green + protein.

1. Whole Grains = 20-30% of the bowl

Start your bowl with a sturdy foundation. Aim for whole grains such as brown rice &  fluffy quinoa.

Grains are rich in nutrients, fiber, B vitamins, antioxidants, and trace minerals. They will help fill you up and also keep your bathroom visits more frequently. let’s not for get the they promote healthy bacteria growth in your gut too.

2. Vegetables = 40-60% of the bowl

Eat the rainbow. Add veggies in various forms, with the ability to layer. Avocado, onions, sweet potatoes, snap peas, sprouts, mushrooms, cucumbers, red bell peppers,  tomatoes, asparagus, carrots, zucchini, and squash are great options.

Vegetables are great they give you  of potassium, fiber, beta-carotene, calcium, folic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin C. They will help you maintain healthy blood pressure. Vegetables also reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. So eat your veggies today!

3. Protein = 5-10% of the bowl

An important source that’s vital to give you energy. Pair your protein to pull out the flavors with beans, boiled eggs, turkey,  chicken, steak, fish, spiced chick peas, or cheese.

Protein are a vital source to the maintenance of your body. It serves as the building block for bones, muscles, skin, cartilage, and blood. Keep in mind you don’t have to get your protein solely from meat. Beans, quinoa, eggs and vegetables have sustainable amounts of protein too.

4. Fermented = a pinch of probiotics

Pack in some punch with golden sauerkraut or pickled vegetables.

Fermented foods are a great source of probiotics (hello gut and a healthy immune system), not only do they have B vitamins, which will improved mood and energy. The Probiotics also help introduce beneficial bacteria into your digestive system. This will help you absorb more of the nutrients in the foods you eat.

You can click on this link for more idea’s on budda bowls from pinterest.

 

This is a  New Year and a new you. I want you in 2017 regardless of the many daily issues and tasks  that life throws at you. I want you to start putting  YOU and YOUR health first. Try a new recipe, pull out that blender and make a smoothie, throw some ingredients in a crockpot, stop grabbing that take out burger. At the end of the day, the food we eat is the most important step in achieving best health. Eating is also entirely within our grasp. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, famously said, ”   Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. In other words, food can be your friend and it can be your foe. It’s all up to you. It’s always been up to you. Eat with thought!

You and your health are important to me, Bon Appetit!

-A.L. Childers aka Thehypothyroidismchick

I want to thank you  for reading my latest blog.  Please let me know if you need any support with it. 

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Health and Happiness,

 

resources:

http://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/whats-whole-grain-refined-grain/gluten-free-whole-grains

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20718479,00.html