Her-Bivore Blog

What Are Buddha Bowls?

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BuddhaBowl

I didn't think it would be me writing this blog. Amy is way more active on Instagram than I am, I've only just joined the club really. However, these stood out to me. What are these "Buddha Bowls" that everyone keeps posting about?

Alas, I was curious. Each one seemed different and I could not find a recipe. So I did some digging.

Buddha Bowls

For those of us who have been living under a rock their entire lives. Buddha was a man on a spiritual journey who found enlightenment under a tree. He claimed after his 40 days under this tree that he understood the meaning of life in the deepest way.

He respected all life and taught people what he had learnt. Some claimed he was a God but he actually wasn't, he was just pretty zen...

Buddha Bowls

So if he respected all life, that would mean he was vegan. There probably is something on the internet about what Buddha supposedly ate but one thing I can clarify is that he did not have Instagram... Or put his name to any such bowls on Instagram.

So what is a Buddha Bowl?

"Buddha Bowls" are more of a reference to spirituality, wellness and balance. Hence why Instagrammers are all over this. There is no set recipe. What you aim to do is include as many different colours as you can into a bowl.

  • A) Because colours are pretty and great fun when it comes to playing with the saturation on Instagram.
  • B) Because with different colours of food, you are giving your body the different nutrients it craves and needs.

So in actual fact, a Buddha Bowl isn't just a pretty bowl of fruits and vegetables. It is really, REALLY good for vegans. When we are carefully putting together our meal plans and figuring out different ways to get the nutrients we need to be extra healthy and show up the meat eaters, these Buddha Bowls would go a long way to giving us the nutrients we need in a day.

So I gave it a go...

My first Buddha Bowl

Ingredients

  • A couple of leaves of baby lettuce
  • two radishes
  • 1 pack of udon noodles
  • soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp ground ginger
  • sunflower seeds
  • half an avocado
  • half a cucumber
  • pomegranate seeds
  • physalis
  • A nice bowl to display it in for Instagram. I used Amy's coconut bowl. 

How to:

  • Fry off your udon noodles in a small pan. I finely sliced the radishes and added them along with the sunflower seeds, a dash of soy sauce and the ground ginger.
  • Prep your vegetables. I finely sliced one half of an avocado and the cucumber so I could roll it.
  • Line your bowl with the two leaves of lettuce and the avocado slices.
  • Place your udon noodles into the bowl and push to one side
  • Place your rolled cucumber in between the lettuce and the noodles as they will want to spring flat again.
  • Fill your cucumber with the pomegranate seeds and place your physalis on top.

How was it?

I confess, I was sceptical as to how good this would be and I couldn't help but think "this is the rabbit food the meat-eaters keep telling me I eat".

However, as I tucked into this at my table out in the sun, I was pleasantly surprised! It felt like I was eating everything my body was craving. You know that feeling? When you've made something healthy and it just tastes so good knowing how good it is for you?

So here's my conclusion on Buddha Bowls. Sure they look lovely on Instagram but don't just like it, go and make yourself one! You are bound to have fruits and vegetables around your kitchen that need to be used up. Rather than chuck them away and waste food, see what you can put in a bowl to finish them up. There are no right or wrong answers with a Buddha Bowl so get creative, reduce food waste and improve your health!

Buddha Bowls

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Did you have a go at making your own Buddha Bowl? Why not tell us what you made yours with in the comments below!

Written by Jack Ricketts
-Him-Bivore
Marketing has always been my career focus. I am striving to promote a plant-based lifestyle to the masses through positive campaigns and sharing the benefits of veganism. The animals, and the planet, need us more than ever to make a change. 
You can find me on Instagram