Bowl Me Over
Sometimes I can be a lazy eater. In the past, this has meant a lot of mindless snacking. What I’ve found is with some preparation and light planning, this useless behavior can be averted, or at least, more thoughtfully diverted. Even just thinking about all options and potential roadblocks ahead of time, can really change the journey.
Bowls are a great way to pack a meal with nutrition and flavor, and can be made of things you have on hand. Keeping a well-stocked cabinet is a crucial piece of this. I always have beans, lentils, rice and a variety of pastas in my pantry, all of which make great bases for bowls. The fiber in grains helps keep you full and feeling satisfied, while the protein in the legumes keeps you energized.
All vegetables taste good roasted. You could fight me on this fact, but you won’t change my mind. In this weird climate, I try to shop once a week to biweekly, which allows me to restock on fresh fruits and veggies, and keep my exposure limited. Squashes and potatoes are great for roasting, super filling and very nutritious. Plus, you can roast the seeds from large squash for a crunchy addition to your bowl or just a side snack. Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, the list goes on for roastables. What are your favorite veggies? Roasting one pan a week can really upgrade your weekly meals.
If you can’t get fresh, keep a frozen stock. There are so many options for frozen vegetables that can be steamed quickly on the stove or heated up in the oven. Spinach is one of my favorite bases, a fact I discovered through Organic Krush’s Krush Your Own bowl. I always have a few bags in my freezer, because it has a myriad of vitamins, cooks up quickly and tastes great. Fish is also a great source of protein that can be kept in the freezer, thawed and cooked in a short amount of time. I have a go-to bowl combination for when I’m feeling particularly incapable of making a decision, and this has saved me on countless occasions from choosing a nutrient deficient alternative, I highly suggest this.
I also have a go-to Krush Your Own bowl. The base is sauteed spinach, the protein is avocado, and then my add-ins are roasted beets, goat cheese, sauteed onions and sweet potatoes. Another life saver. I don’t know about you, but no matter how organized I try to be, there are just days where I fall short. Depending on the month, there can be weeks where I fall short. This is when I call in the calvary. Ordering a week’s worth of meal prep can really give me the boost I need to get through times when I’m tight on time. But for when I haven’t planned ahead, a go-to bowl of my own design or a professionals, can come in clutch.
There is a huge difference in the way I function on healthy food, and the way I malfunction on junk food. Now that my son is starting to walk, I find that energy and time are huge commodities. I have to really pack a nutritious punch in a pinch, and bowls are my life hack. Having a Swiss army knife of healthy choices is a great way to care for that body that does so much for you, so give it some thought now, and save yourself some stress later.
by Catie Zimmerman
