Customizable Grain Bowl (Print version)

Build vibrant bowls with grains, proteins, fresh vegetables, and dressings. Perfect for meal prep.

# What you'll need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup cooked brown rice
02 - 1 cup cooked quinoa
03 - 1 cup cooked farro
04 - 1 cup cooked couscous, gluten-free alternative available

→ Proteins

05 - 1 cup cooked and cubed chicken breast
06 - 1 cup baked tofu, cubed
07 - 1 cup cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
08 - 1 cup cooked shrimp

→ Vegetables

09 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
11 - 1 cup roasted sweet potato, cubed
12 - 1 cup steamed broccoli florets
13 - 1 cup shredded carrots
14 - 1 avocado, sliced

→ Toppings and Extras

15 - ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese, optional
16 - ¼ cup toasted seeds or nuts such as pumpkin seeds or almonds
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs such as cilantro or parsley
18 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

→ Dressings

19 - ¼ cup lemon-tahini dressing
20 - ¼ cup balsamic vinaigrette
21 - ¼ cup soy-ginger dressing
22 - ¼ cup green goddess dressing

# Directions:

01 - Cook grains according to package instructions. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool slightly before assembly.
02 - Prepare your selected protein by cooking, baking, or using prepared leftovers as desired.
03 - Wash and chop all vegetables. Roast or steam according to preference and availability.
04 - Distribute cooked grains evenly as the foundation in each serving bowl.
05 - Arrange selected proteins and vegetables in sections or layers over the grain base.
06 - Sprinkle seeds, nuts, herbs, and cheese as desired for texture and flavor enhancement.
07 - Drizzle preferred dressing immediately before consumption. Serve hot or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It bends to your cravings instead of forcing you into a box, which means you'll actually want to eat it.
  • Meal prep becomes fun when you're not reheating the same thing four days straight—components stay fresh and separate until you're ready.
  • This is sneakily how you get people to eat their vegetables without anyone feeling deprived or righteous about it.
02 -
  • Dressing timing is everything—add it too early and your crispy vegetables turn sad and limp within an hour.
  • Roasted vegetables actually taste better when they've cooled slightly, so don't rush that step even though impatience is calling.
03 -
  • Toast your seeds and nuts before adding them—the difference between forgettable and incredible is literally thirty seconds in a dry pan.
  • Make your dressing from scratch when you can; bottled is fine, but homemade tastes like you actually tried and changes everything about how the bowl tastes.
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