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Looking for a balanced, nutritious, delicious and easy to make meal idea? Learn how to build a healthy nourish bowl using this simple 3-step formula. Great for lunch, dinner and meal prep!

Three different healthy nourish bowls arranged in a curve on a white background.

What is a nourish bowl?

A nourish bowl is a well balanced, healthy meal containing a variety of nutrient dense ingredients (veggies, healthy fats, quality proteins and carbs). They are also known as buddha bowls, macro bowls, bliss bowls, power bowls, etc. No matter what you call them, these bowls are an excellent option for a healthy and easy lunch or dinner.

Do you eat them hot or cold?

That’s up to you – either way is fine! It depends on your preference and the ingredients you choose to add.

Reasons why I love these healthy bowls

Nourish bowls are an amazing meal option for a number of reasons:

  • No Recipe Needed: I love that these bowls are so versatile and do not require a recipe. You can use whatever is in season or what is on special – the choice is up to you!
  • Healthy: Filled with a well balanced variety of nutrient rich, whole foods (aka “real food”).
  • Delicious: Obviously one of the most important reasons.😉 So many different flavours and textures combined in one bowl – YUM!
  • Easy To Make: These are super easy to make since you are basically just assembling a variety of your favourite ingredients in a bowl.
  • Endless Options: There are countless combinations so you will never get bored. This also makes them great in households with multiple people since everybody can customize their own bowl to suit their individual tastes.
  • Works For Every Diet: No matter your dietary preference or requirements, these bowls can be customized to suit your needs. That’s the beauty of a meal with no specific recipe. Allergies? Just don’t add those items to your bowl. Vegan? Just use plant-based ingredients. Paleo? Don’t add any dairy or grain-based ingredients, etc. I think you get the picture!
  • Perfect For Meal Prep: These are great for meal prep since you just need to prep a variety of ingredients and then can mix and match to make a variety of different nourish bowls.

How to make a nourish bowl

Are you ready to make one? Just follow this simple 3-step formula/template to easily build yourself a healthy and delicious meal.

Infographic detailing the three steps to build a healthy nourish bowl.

Step 1: Base Of Leafy Greens

Start off with a base of leafy greens. Some options include: spinach, kale, arugula, mixed baby greens (mesclun mix), romaine, leaf lettuce, swiss chard, sprouts, microgreens, etc.

Step 2: Top with variety of veggies, protein, carbs + healthy fats

It’s time to top your base of leafy greens with a variety of nutrient dense veggies, protein, carbs and healthy fats. You can sprinkle them on top or arrange them in neat little piles or stripes across the top – whatever makes you happy! Here are some options for each group:

  • VEGGIES: They can be raw, roasted or grilled. Pick a few that you enjoy! Some options include: carrots, cucumber, cabbage, zucchini, beets, mushrooms, peppers, radish, broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, green beans, asparagus, brussel sprouts, etc.
  • PROTEIN: Some options include: nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, quinoa, tempeh, tofu, eggs, fish and quality meat (chicken, turkey, beef, etc.). If choosing animal protein, focus on quality sources. Perhaps you have a great local farmers market, butcher or CSA program in your area that sources quality meat. Alternatively, there are also meat subscription boxes like ButcherBox or truLOCAL that conveniently deliver high quality meat to your door.
  • WHOLE FOOD CARBS: Some options include: sweet potatoes, quinoa, rice, corn, squash, whole grains, wild rice, beans, peas, etc.
  • HEALTHY FATS: Some options include: avocado, nuts, seeds, olives, olive oil, tahini, salmon, etc.

Step 3: Finish it off with Add-Ons

It’s time for the delicious add-ons! These are things that you drizzle, scatter and scoop over the top to bring it all together. Some options include: homemade or quality store-bought dressings or sauces, fermented veggies like sauerkraut or kimchi, nuts, seeds, hemp hearts, salsa, hummus, fruit, cheese, guacamole, pesto, nutritional yeast, fresh lemon juice, herbs, favourites spices or seasonings, etc.

So let’s summarize…

To make a healthy nourish bowl, simply: Start off with a base of leafy greens. Top with a variety of nutrient dense veggies, protein, carbs and healthy fats. Then bring it all together by drizzling or scattering on some delicious add-ons. Get creative and have fun – the options are endless!

Great For Meal Prep

These bowls are absolutely perfect for meal prep. Just prep a variety of ingredients and store them separately in the fridge. For example, you can wash and cut up veggies, roast veggies, cook up some proteins or grains, make a dressing or sauce, etc. Then when it comes time to make a meal, you can easily and quickly mix and match your prepped ingredients to make a delicious nourish bowl. You can also meal prep completely assembled bowls if you prefer but I like the ingredients approach for greater versatility.

Looking for some inspiration?

The beauty of these bowls is that they do not require a recipe and are so flexible! However, sometimes we need a little inspiration to get the creative juices flowing. Here are 12 great ideas to get you started!

Collage of 12 different healthy nourish bowl recipe ideas.

First off let me break down the ingredients in the bowls featured in the images at the top of this post. These were very easy to put together with a bit of prep work.

Collage of 3 different healthy bowl ideas.
  1. Tex Mex Style: Base of mixed baby greens topped with shredded carrots, red and yellow tomatoes, green and red bell peppers, shredded roast chicken, corn, black beans, avocado and finished off with a drizzle of sauce (greek yogurt mixed with salsa).
  2. Salmon Bowl: Base of mixed baby greens topped with canned wild sockeye salmon, cucumber, wild rice blend, hard boiled egg, red cabbage, shredded carrots, pea shoots, pepitas, kimchi and finished off with a drizzle of this local UMAMI vinaigrette that I have been obsessed with lately (any tangy vinaigrette or tahini sauce would also taste great!).
  3. Mediterranean Style: Base of baby spinach topped with roasted sweet potatoes, feta cheese, olives, mix of roasted veggies (red onion, zucchini, bell peppers), hummus, squeeze of fresh lemon and drizzle of olive oil.

Here are some more great ideas from some other talented bloggers to check out:

What’s your favorite nourish bowl combo? Let me know in the comments below or show me your delicious creations on Instagram by tagging me (@maple_and_mango). I would love to see what you come up with!

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Two different nourish bowls on a white background.

Build Your Own Healthy Nourish Bowl

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 14 reviews
  • Author: Vanessa | Maple + Mango
  • Prep Time: 10 min (will vary)
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: varies
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Assemble
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Looking for a balanced, nutritious, delicious and easy to make meal idea? Learn how to build a healthy nourish bowl using this simple formula. Great for lunch, dinner and meal prep!


Ingredients

Base:

  • Leafy Greens (e.g. spinach, kale, arugula, mixed baby greens, romaine, leaf lettuce, swiss chard, sprouts, microgreens, etc.)

Top with:

  • Veggies: raw, roasted or grilled (e.g. carrots, cucumber, cabbage, zucchini, beets, mushrooms, peppers, radish, broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, green beans, asparagus, etc.)
  • Protein (e.g. nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, quinoa, tempeh, tofu, eggs, fish, quality meat*, etc.)
  • Whole Food Carbs (e.g. sweet potatoes, quinoa, rice, corn, squash, whole grains, wild rice, beans, peas, etc.)
  • Healthy Fats (e.g. avocado, nuts, seeds, olives, olive oil, tahini, salmon, etc.)

Add-Ons:

  • Options include: homemade or quality store-bought dressings or sauces, fermented veggies like sauerkraut or kimchi, nuts, seeds, hemp hearts, salsa, hummus, fruit, cheese, guacamole, pesto, nutritional yeast, fresh lemon juice, herbs, spices, seasonings, etc.

Instructions

These bowls are super versatile and do not require a specific recipe.  Just 3 simple steps to easily build yourself a healthy and delicious meal.  Get creative and have fun – the options are endless!

  1. Base of Leafy Greens:  Start off by placing a couple handfuls of leafy greens in your bowl.
  2. Top with Veggies + Protein + Carbs + Healthy Fats:  Add a variety of nutrient dense veggies, protein, carbs and healthy fats.  You can sprinkle them on top or arrange them in neat little piles or stripes.
  3. Finish It Off With Add-Ons:  Drizzle, scatter or scoop on some delicious add-ons to bring it all together.

Notes

  • Customizable:  These bowls can be customized to suit your personal tastes or dietary requirements (allergies, vegan, paleo, keto, etc.)
  • Perfect for Meal Prep:  These are great for meal prep since you just need to prep a variety of ingredients and then can mix and match to make a number of different nourish bowls.
  • *Quality Meat:  When choosing animal protein, focus on quality sources (e.g. great local farmers market, butcher, CSA program or meat subscription service like ButcherBox or truLOCAL).

About Vanessa Gilic

I want to help you make delicious food using real ingredients! Explore a variety of easy to follow, real-food recipes ranging from healthy eats to comfort food. Welcome to Maple + Mango – I'm so happy you're here!

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30 Comments

  1. Verna Eileen Douglas says:

    How does this work out with two people? Do you prep twice a week so everything is fresh? I’m used to planning meals with my husband for a week or ten days and then shopping twice within that time. We also, during the winter, make batches of soup to last several days. We do the same thing with batches of salad. I’m trying to think how this would work for us…any advice for couples?






    1. Vanessa | Maple + Mango says:

      If I’m prepping for the week, my favorite way is to prep various ingredients to keep in the fridge and then build out the bowls fresh. For example, prep containers of washed lettuce and other greens, sliced up veggies like bell peppers, shredded carrots, etc, some prepped proteins (e.g. grilled or shredded chicken breasts, hard boiled eggs, salmon), perhaps a homemade dressing or some cooked grains and so on. The post lists lots of ideas of ingredients you could prep. I like to either prep ingredients that are in season or on sale and then get creative building bowls or I might plan out the nourish bowls I want to make and then have all the ingredients prepped to quickly build those specific bowls. I find that everything lasts longer this way vs prepping the bowls entirely in advance.

  2. Terri says:

    I love all the ideas you give for these bowls- I’ve never actually made one and always wanted to!






    1. Vanessa | Maple + Mango says:

      Glad you loved the ideas – hope you have a ton of fun building your first bowl!

  3. NANCY says:

    Love those reminder to easy to make and mix/match ingredients to build a healthy and delicious nourishing bowl!






    1. Vanessa | Maple + Mango says:

      I love to mix and match ingredients – never gets boring!

  4. Julia Pinney says:

    I absolutely love this idea and how perfect for January. I think many of us are trying to get back on track after the holidays. So many wonderful options here. I love how you covered pretty much everything! And everything looks delicious.






    1. Vanessa | Maple + Mango says:

      Thank you for leaving a comment. I always crave food like this in January after all the richer foods and cookies in December;)

  5. amy says:

    I love the variety in these bowls, I particularly liked the Mediterranean style bowl. That’s my favorite. These are going on my weekly lunch rotation.






    1. Vanessa | Maple + Mango says:

      The Mediterranean style bowl is definitely a good one! I love the variety as well – never gets boring since the possible combinations are endless.