Even though it’s the dead of winter and all I want to do is crawl under the blankets with some hot cocoa and a chocolate bar, I’ve been making an extra effort to increase my veggie intake. The more veggies I eat, the more chocolate I can have, after all. It’s simple math. Some days it’s easy to forget how great I feel when I’m fueling my body with a rainbow of plants; they keep me sane during the cold, dreary days of winter. Food has this amazing power to influence my mood (much like exercise) and I often tell myself that feeling better is only a meal (or workout) away. It really is true! So keep this in mind if you are feeling the effects of a long winter like I am. Healthy eating begins with the very next meal…
I go through vegetable phases all the time. Right, now I’m hooked on cauliflower (enough to turn it into creamy alfredo which you seem to be enjoying a lot!), cabbage (via sauerkraut…lol), and sweet potatoes. Always sweet potatoes. This tasty lunch is something I threw together recently and I loved the combo so much I decided to share with you. The main event is an energizing black bean and sweet potato quinoa salad. The only thing I missed was a sliced avocado (I opened it up and it was all bruised…sigh), so if you have some around definitely throw it in.
In addition to the salad, I added roasted sweet potato rounds (because you can never have too much sweet potato on a cold winter day), roasted cauliflower, hemp hearts. and a big ‘ol scoop of hummus for good measure. Since I already had the salad made in advance, all I had to do was throw the veggies into the oven to roast while I tended to other things. It came together quite fast! Three cheers for leftovers.
This isn’t so much an exact recipe I’m sharing today, but more of a show and tell to hopefully inspire you to create your own. I lightly adapted one of my favourite quinoa salads from last year (see link below), and then added in other things to create a filling and feel-good lunch bowl! Oh by the way, as my sister discovered last weekend, this quinoa salad is also fantastic in a wrap with hummus and other veggies. A very good idea, I’d say!
For the bowl:
– Black Bean & Quinoa Salad (I made it with roasted sweet potato instead of carrots – loved this variation so much!)
– 1-2 cups chopped roasted cauliflower
– 1 sweet potato, sliced into rounds and roasted
– hummus, as needed to get your daily quota (the salad is so good mixed with some hummus, FYI)
– hemp hearts, for garnish (adds more protein and healthy fats…and let’s not forget edible confetti)
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So there you have it. A mood-booster-in-a-bowl.
Is it spring yet?
I love the way you think! I’ve been juicing more to increase my veggie intake and it really makes me feel better about eating a piece of chocolate after dinner :)
I’m constantly searching for lunch inspiration- it’s the one meal that I have a really hard time with. I can’t figure out why!
This looks amazing though! Plus, the ingredients are something I can have prepared ahead of time so I’ll have no excuse not to have a healthy, delicious lunch.
Thank you! xoxo
Love’n the bowls!
My favorite from a local Berkeley restaurant, Cafe Gratitude (source: some random blog):
seasonalvegan.com/winter/i-am-whole-bowl/
The “sauce” would be great on lotsa stuff.
I didn’t have the sea palm or kelp powder but it’s still great without it.
I really love the idea of one bowl meals. Somehow they make the meal seem so much more substantial and cozy!
There was a snow storm in NYC yesterday so unfortunately I couldn’t go grocery shopping. Instead I spent most of the evening browsing through your recipes and found a lot of things I could make straight from my pantry! Thanks for the endless inspiration & ideas :)
Yum, this looks amazing! So fresh and vibrant. It’s so true that we feel our best when we fuel our insides with the best. Love it!
DELURKING TO SAY:
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This post reminded me that I really need to get to the store today and buy some more colorful veggies to go on the falafel and rice bowls we’re planning to take out of the freezer tonight. Parsley, I think, is not going to cut it on a day like today. :)
I recently became vegan after being vegetarian for 8 years. You have made the transition so much easier for me. Thank you. Bought your book last month, anticipating its arrival! This dish is so great because being that my husband hasn’t yet converted, (he will eventually, wink, wink) I have many left overs. I am trying so many new and exciting recipes, flavors that I never imagined! Thanks again. Don’t ever stop!
By the way were wearing shorts here in Las Vegas some days.
Hummus is absolutely a necessary salad component, I agree! This looks amazing and so easy once you have some basic prep done- love it!
Hey Angela, Hope your well, as I am dedicated to going to school and once in a while when Im not studying (math and bio) I also take online classes, well when you take online classes here in Las Vegas you can set up at profile, you know a pic, some background info, and ALSO — If there are any links to cool websites that interest myself , I noted ohsheglows,com and one other raw vegan food blog that im obsessed with, its so other people can see what interest myself and I noted you. not a biggie, just thought id let you no. Have a PEACEFUL day, Angela….
A bowl is a fabulous way to get many nutrients and flavors. Thanks for the great idea!
Hi Angela,
I remember somewhere reading about if we pre-ordered your cookbook you were doing something about an e-book with some recipes. Was this in your newsletter? I can’t find that email. I haven’t seen anything else on this – is it still in the works? Please advise. Thank you very much! (Can’t wait for your cook book!)
This looks great! It’s summer here in Australia but that isn’t going to stop me from making this sometime soon! Hope spring comes quickly!
Sam xx
smart-twenties.com
This looks like just the thing I was craving and didn’t even know it. More importantly- I truly LOVE your new profile picture! It’s GORGEOUS! You literally are absolutely GLOWing! Thanks for sharing your talents and recipes with all of us foodies :D
Veggie bowls are the best! They’re just so easy to put together which I reckon makes them taste better too (even though they taste awesome already).
Here in Perth, Western Australia, we’re sweltering… what I would give to swap a few days of weather with you! lol
Robyn xx
This is my kind of meal; leftovers galore!!
This is definitely the perfect cold winter day bowl! Love roasting sweet potatoes and cauliflower. I’ve recently started adding hemp hearts to my salads as well. As far as hummus goes, I will make a HUGE batch, then freeze it in 1-2 cup portions. It can be frozen up to 6 months (mine never lasts that long). Simply take it out of the freezer and once thawed, give it a stir. Works like a charm.
Look- I am all over the food blogs and yours is simply amazing. Easy, creative and delicious. Thank you so much for putting it out there for us. I have made many of your recipes and I have yet to be disappointed. Again, thank you for sharing. -Amber
This sounds great! I make a quinoa salad that’s almost identical to this, except I also toss in tomatoes, cilantro, and avocado – the lime juice and the press of the quinoa keeps the avocado surprisingly fresh and free from oxidization. I’ve never thought of tossing some other roasted vegetables in with it – I’ll have to try it!
OK – this looks amazing!!! It is freezing here too- but I truly love it because we get to hibernate a bit, make yummy warm food like this and go to bed early :-)…Oh yes, I know how to live!
Made your cauliflower alfredo last night – oh my – I LOVED it! My family did not know what it was (I called it cheese sauce as they are vegetarian and eat cheese – though they knew it was vegan cause I was eating it) and ate it up – even had seconds- and even my picky son (who does not like ‘warm cheese’ and is obsessed with his cheese always being straight from the fridge) liked it. My boyz have a race today so pasta was the perfect pre race meal- thanks for making it interesting – and delicious! for us :-)
Enjoy your weekend!