Snap to it and make these Balance Bowls! No matter what you call these plant powered “balance bowls“— Power bowls, buddha bowls, Macro Bowls, Quinoa Bowls, etc., they truly are easy to make! A healthy meal prep bowl packed full of balanced macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and more!
Well what do you know, it’s Thursday. Almost the weekend. And ya’ll, I so off track with life. Like whoa! Our trip home was nice but then I can come home needing to tackle what’s left of work for the week. Recipe testing… and testing…. and testing, Nourish Bowls Cookbook writing (anyone wanna help?), and restocking the fridge. Cause we be EMPTY. That’s slang for we are without food.
That being said, I decided to kick my butt into gear with these snappy plant based balance bowls. Basically meal prep bowls that help fuel your day with “balanced” eating. I put balanced in quotations marks because, let’s face it, everyone’s form of balance is different. All in all, balance bowls means they are macronutrient based; wholesome gluten free carbohydrates, healthy fats, and protein! What you choose as your macro is up to you! You can focus on whole 30 friendly balance nourish bowl (grain free, dairy free, etc), or you can power it up with rice/grains and marinated chicken. You get what I’m saying, right? Balanced is individualized.
Speaking of balanced, I made these quinoa balanced bowls over 3 months ago and totally forgot to post them. Hence the picture of me in a hoodie. Uh, it’s definitely not hoodie weather here. It’s hot! Oh well, it all balances out, right? Haha, such is life. Le sigh..
Okay Okay, moving on. For these snappy plant powered balance bowls we are using 2 SUPER grains as the base, raw veggies, legumes (black beans), as the plant based protein, organic cultured dairy and olive oil as the healthy fats. Capeesh?
Let’s dive a little deeper into the PURPOSE of the MACRONUTRIENTS. I think you will like this. Well, at least I hope so. Nerd our NUTRITION time ya’ll!
PLANT POWER MEAL PREP BOWL –> BALANCE YO!
- Quinoa: 1 cup has almost 8 grams of plant based protein, 20-30% Magnesium, and 15 % Plant based (Non Heme) Iron.
- Rice: resistant starchI used a jasmine rice mixed into the Quinoa. White Rice is easily digestion, and when cooled is a great for healthy gut flora.
- Black Beans: Another great source of plant based protein! Plus they are rich in folate and fiber.
- Carrots: Carrots are rich in beta carotene, a precursor to active vitamin A. Beta carotene has been shown to help boost immunity in the body. Plus carrots have a good source of Vitamin K. P.S If you spiralize the carrots like I did, they are more nutrient dense. KIDDING!
- Cilantro: This herb can do wonders for digestive distress. It has many healing anti-inflammatory properties.
- Onion:
- Yogurt Cheese (Kefir Cheese). Plain Greek Yogurt or Organic Sour Cream (or non dairy Yogurt/Sour Cream) also work! Get the full fat. It’s lower in lactose! Plus the organic cultured cream or kefir cheese/yogurt is a great probiotic!
- Olive Oil: Full of healthy unsaturated fats and rich in Vitamin E!
- SPICES : Cumin (rich in B-complex vitamins and antioxidants), sea salt, pepper, and garlic.
- Flaxseed to top – Rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, protein, and fiber. Also, they contain a good source of vitamin B6, Iron, copper and zinc. (source)
See, now that’s one EPIC balanced MACRO bowl, even if it is all plant based. YEA Buddy!
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Plant Powered Balance Bowls
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 3 1x
Description
Plant powered “balance bowls,” aka power bowls, buddha bowls, Macro Bowls, Quinoa Bowls, etc. are easy to make! A healthy plant based, gluten free, meal prep recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 1 cup cooked white rice
- 15 oz cooked black beans (canned and drained or homemade cooked black beans)
- ½ cup chopped onion or shallot
- ½ tsp garlic, minced
- 1 tsp olive oil or avocado oil (extra for drizzling on top)
- ¼ tsp Salt and black pepper (to taste)
- ¼ tsp cumin
- 1 large carrot (spiralized or julienne cut)
- 4–5 tablespoon cultured kefir yogurt cheese or sour cream. See notes for vegan option.
- Fresh Cilantro
- 1 tbsp flaxseed
Instructions
- Prepare quinoa and rice as instructed on package. You can use leftover rice or rice cooker for a quick version. If you need to know a stove top way to cook quinoa, I explain it in this recipe.
- Once you have cooked rice and quinoa, mix them together in a large bowl. Add a pinch of sea salt and set aside.
- Next saute diced onions with oil in a sauce pan for 2 minutes. Add beans, garlic, cumin, and cook until fragrant. Add salt/pepper last.
- Using a spiralizer, spiralize or julienne cut carrot. This should make at least 2 cups of shavings/noodles.
- Spoon all the ingredients above into 3 bowls. Add a handful of cilantro to each along with with 1 -2 teaspoon flaxseeds each.
- Top each bowl with 2 tablespoon kefir yogurt cheese or sour cream. Drizzle with extra olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- For kefir yogurt cheese I use the Laban Brand.
- These make great meal prep bowls.
- For vegan option, you can use tofu or even non dairy plain yogurt instead of the kefir cheese. You could even try making your own vegan sour cream
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: main
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 303
- Sugar: 2.7 g
- Sodium: 364.5 mg
- Fat: 7.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 48.1 g
- Fiber: 11.2 g
- Protein: 11.6 g
- Cholesterol: 5.6 mg
Keywords: power bowl, balance bowls, plant based, gluten free, meal prep
Have you ever heard of macro bowls or balance bowls?
What is balanced eating to you. Ohhh so much thinking on Holiday week. Sorry folks!
Cheers!
It’s not plant based. It has dairy but without the yogurt then okay. Don’t claim a meal is plant based if it includes animal products.
I use non dairy sour cream (vegan) a lot too. I put that in my recipe for plant based folk 😉
I just love Buddha bowls.
me too!
What is it about putting food in a bowl that makes it so damn appealing?! Speaking of which, you reminded me I need to share my Scrambled Egg Breakfast Bowls. Now if only I could get the post to type itself. Ha! 🙂
I can’t have yogurt or sour cream (migraine elim diet). I could sub cottage cheese…Any alternative ideas for that part of this yummy looking bowl? Thanks.
sure! cottage cheese or ricotta would be great. you could even it whip/blend it until creamy. Keep me posted!
So loaded with good stuff! It sounds delicious!
You know it girl!
These are right up my alley! And I’m all about nerding out on some macronutrient knowledge!
Nerds unite!
I am making these ASAP 🙂 🙂
Go for it!
I could eat this bowl every day of the week – yum!
I practically do!
These look so darn healthy and tasty! Gotta try them this summer 🙂
For sure! Power lunch special
These are snappy! And just my cup of tea- bowls like this are a healthy staple in my house- can’t wait to try this one!
Yes! So much goodness! A staple here too!
I am SO making this one!
How about I deliver? ?
No thinking!!! LOL! I could go for one of these right now. We’ve been on a ball field in Austin for dayssss and I’m so hot and tired. That BBQ tho… 😉
OMG you need a margarita with these bowls. On the rocks. If you are still in Austin, go to MOther’s cafe. It’s where these bowls were inspired!
That looks amazing Lindsay!!!! Balance – a cookie in 1 hand & a cookie in the other! 🙂 Just kidding!
i like the way you think! <3
I hear ya on needing balance. I’m looking for it everyday. Nourishing food helps!
So true! How are you by the way? I need update
Haha – I was wondering about that hoodie – thought you added it in for dramatic effect – after all the colors in this balance bowl bounce so well off that grey/black tinged hoodie!
Lady – am gonna have to snap to it and make these Balance Bowls cos them be delicious!
haha right? I’m so out of it these days. I blame summer and no schedule. How are you?!!
Love this and the flaxseed mixin . . not product pushing or anything but NOW makes a Triple Omega seed blend — hemp, flax, chia . . . that is perfect for this. Making my riff on this when we get home next week!
oh i need to check out this brand!
MmM.. another good one! 🙂
just move here already! 😉