Customizable Grain Bowl (Printable Version)

A vibrant bowl featuring grains, proteins, fresh vegetables, and dressings. Perfect for meal prep and personalization.

# What You 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
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 grains according to package instructions. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool slightly before assembly.
02 - Cook, bake, or prepare your selected protein options. Use freshly cooked or leftover proteins as desired.
03 - Wash and chop all vegetables. Roast or steam as preferred, maintaining crisp texture or desired tenderness.
04 - Distribute cooked grains evenly as the foundation in each serving bowl.
05 - Top grain base with selected proteins and vegetables in visually appealing arrangements.
06 - Sprinkle cheese, toasted seeds or nuts, fresh herbs, and sesame seeds over the bowl.
07 - Drizzle preferred dressing just before serving. Serve immediately or store components separately for meal prep purposes.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You prep once on Sunday and eat well all week without touching a stove again.
  • There's something deeply satisfying about building your own plate instead of being told what goes where.
  • Leftover vegetables finally have a purpose, and wilting spinach becomes a feature, not a waste.
  • Dietary preferences stop being complicated when everyone can customize their own bowl.
02 -
  • Dressing makes or breaks this bowl, so don't skimp or rush it—a mediocre bowl becomes memorable when the dressing is thoughtful and balanced.
  • Storing components separately instead of tossing everything together keeps vegetables crisp and grains fluffy for days of eating bowls that taste fresh, not sad.
  • Warm grains will slightly soften raw vegetables, which is either perfect or disappointing depending on how you feel that day, so pay attention to temperature contrast.
03 -
  • Grain bowls live or die by texture contrast, so always include something crunchy, something soft, something creamy, and something that breaks apart differently.
  • Cold grains taste better than room temperature grains, and warm vegetables taste better than cold ones, so let components cool separately before combining them.
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