Customizable Grain Bowl (Printable)

Build nourishing bowls with grains, proteins, and vegetables for easy meals

# 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

→ 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
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs
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

# How To Make It:

01 - Prepare your selected grains according to package instructions. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool slightly before assembling bowls.
02 - Prepare your chosen protein by cooking, baking, or using prepared leftovers as desired.
03 - Wash and chop all vegetables. Roast or steam vegetables as preferred for texture and flavor development.
04 - Arrange a foundation layer of cooked grains in each bowl, distributing evenly across the bottom.
05 - Top grain base with selected proteins and prepared vegetables, arranging for visual appeal and balanced distribution.
06 - Sprinkle with your preferred toppings, seeds, nuts, and fresh herbs to complete the bowl composition.
07 - Drizzle with selected dressing immediately before serving. For meal preparation, store dressing separately to maintain texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get to eat dessert for lunch without guilt because somehow vegetables, grains, and protein arranged together feel like a treat.
  • It actually improves when made the night before as long as you keep the dressing separate and add it just before eating.
  • No recipe exists that's this forgiving when you're working with whatever's hiding in your fridge.
02 -
  • Avocado browns if it sits exposed for more than a few hours, so slice it fresh or keep it separate if you're meal prepping and don't want to discover sadness on Wednesday.
  • Wet ingredients like tomatoes and cucumbers will soften grains if they touch for too long, which is fine if you like softer texture but annoying if you wanted crunch, so arrange strategically or store separately.
03 -
  • Toast your seeds or nuts in a dry pan for exactly three minutes before adding them so they taste expensive and intentional instead of sad and forgettable.
  • Taste your grain after it cools and season it with salt and a little acid so it's flavorful on its own and not dependent on dressing to become interesting.
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