How to make a healthy bowl for dinner! |

Out of all the searches that drive readers to my blog, the top search phrase has always been “healthy cooking for beginners” (click here for my healthy cooking 101 post!).

I get a LOT of questions about how to meal plan, how to shop and how to cook. I’ve had people tell me that their eating habits are horrible because they “can’t cook”, and resort to pre-packaged foods, fast food and dining out. I’ve heard this on the blog, social media and even in person.

Well, I’m here to tell you that healthy cooking is EASY. No seriously, I promise! It all comes down to confidence, planning, effort, and resilience!

You’ve GOT to have the confidence to know that, if you follow simple directions, you will not burn down your house.

You’ve GOT to take the time to do some planning. (Again, click on my healthy cooking post above for more on this).

You’ve GOT to put in the effort. Sure it’s easy to call in a pizza, but you might not feel good about it afterward (I know for a fact I could put away a whole pizza myself- been there!).

You’ve GOT to be resilient. If a dish is a fail, so what! It doesn’t mean you give up cooking all together. I have made PLENTY of things that went into the trash (or that I had to power through). Try and try again until you find your stride.

A great way to dip your toe into the water is to start out with something simple.

I recommend trying your hand on whipping up healthy bowls! (think do it yourself Chipotle burrito bowls!)

They are easy, customizable (hello picky eaters and picky families!), budget friendly, a breeze to whip up, and most of all, DELICIOUS.

Here’s how to build a bowl:

Pick a base: brown rice (my fav), lettuce, cauliflower rice, greens, quinoa, or quinoa noodles, spaghetti squash, zoodles- the possibilities are endless! What’s even better is you can buy a lot of this already cooked for you! (hello organic brown rice in the freezer section at Trader Joes!)
Add something meaty: grilled chicken or steak, steamed fish, sautéed shrimp (my fav!) or mushrooms, ground beef, roasted root vegetables or squash, tofu, etc.
Sprinkle on some toppings: salsas or pico de gallo, avocado (avocado on errrrthing), chopped veggies, nuts or seeds (like almonds or pepitas), sliced jalapeños, olives, dried or fresh fruits (like mango!), fresh herbs, crumbled feta cheese, etc.