Create Your Own Nourish Bowl: Customizable Healthy Grain Bowl Recipe

What is a nourish bowl?

A nourish bowl is a balanced meal made from a variety of nutrient-dense ingredients: leafy greens, vegetables, quality proteins, whole-food carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Also called Buddha bowls, macro bowls, power bowls, or bliss bowls, they’re an easy, flexible option for a healthy lunch or dinner.

Do you eat them hot or cold?

Either works. Serve your bowl hot, warm, or chilled depending on your preference and the ingredients you choose.

Why I love these bowls

Nourish bowls are an excellent meal choice for many reasons:

• No recipe needed: They’re highly versatile—you can use whatever’s in season or whatever you have on hand.
• Healthy: They combine whole, nutrient-rich foods for a balanced plate.
• Delicious: Different textures and flavors come together in one bowl for a satisfying meal.
• Easy to make: Assembling a bowl is simple and fast.
• Endless options: So many combinations keep meals interesting and make it easy for everyone to customize their own bowl.
• Fits most diets: Easily adapt them for allergies, vegan, paleo, keto, or other dietary needs by swapping ingredients.
• Great for meal prep: Prep a variety of components in advance and assemble bowls throughout the week.

How to make a nourish bowl

Ready to build one? Follow this simple three-step template to create a healthy and delicious nourish bowl.

Step 1: Base of leafy greens

Begin with a base of leafy greens. Good choices include spinach, kale, arugula, mixed baby greens, romaine, leaf lettuce, Swiss chard, sprouts, or microgreens.

Step 2: Top with veggies, protein, carbs, and healthy fats

Add a variety of nutrient-dense vegetables, a source of protein, a whole-food carbohydrate if desired, and healthy fats. Arrange them however you like—scattered, in sections, or in stripes. Options include:

• Veggies: Raw, roasted, or grilled—carrots, cucumber, cabbage, zucchini, beets, mushrooms, peppers, radish, broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, green beans, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, and more.
• Protein: Nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, quinoa, tempeh, tofu, eggs, fish, or quality meat. Choose higher-quality animal proteins when possible.
• Whole-food carbs: Sweet potatoes, quinoa, rice, corn, squash, whole grains, wild rice, beans, or peas.
• Healthy fats: Avocado, nuts, seeds, olives, olive oil, tahini, or fatty fish like salmon.

Step 3: Finish with add-ons

Top your bowl with flavorful add-ons to tie everything together: dressings or sauces, fermented vegetables like sauerkraut or kimchi, nuts, seeds, hemp hearts, salsa, hummus, fresh fruit, cheese, guacamole, pesto, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, fresh herbs, and your favorite spices or seasonings.

Summary

To make a healthy nourish bowl: place a base of leafy greens, add a mix of veggies, protein, carbs, and healthy fats, then finish with flavorful add-ons. Be creative and have fun—the combinations are limitless.

Great for meal prep

Nourish bowls are ideal for meal prep. Prep components separately—wash and chop greens, roast or steam vegetables, cook proteins and grains, and prepare dressings. Store components in the fridge and assemble bowls when you’re ready for a quick, varied meal. You can also assemble complete bowls ahead of time, but keeping components separate preserves freshness and flexibility.

Looking for inspiration?

These bowls don’t need a strict recipe, but a few ideas can help get you started. Below are sample combinations and three bowls featured in the photos:

Here are the ingredients for the three bowls pictured at the top. They’re simple to assemble with a bit of prep.

1. Tex-Mex style: Mixed baby greens topped with shredded carrots, tomatoes, red and green bell peppers, shredded roast chicken, corn, black beans, avocado, and a drizzle of Greek yogurt mixed with salsa.
2. Salmon bowl: Mixed baby greens topped with canned wild sockeye salmon, cucumber, wild rice blend, hard-boiled egg, red cabbage, shredded carrots, pea shoots, pepitas, kimchi, and a tangy vinaigrette or tahini dressing.
3. Mediterranean style: Baby spinach topped with roasted sweet potatoes, feta, olives, roasted vegetables (red onion, zucchini, bell peppers), hummus, a squeeze of lemon, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Want more ideas? Try different dressings, regional flavor profiles, or seasonal produce to keep bowls interesting. Mix textures—crisp, creamy, crunchy—and vary temperatures for contrast.