If you haven’t heard of Buddha Bowls, you’re probably wondering, what the heck are Buddha Bowls.
Well, Buddha Bowls have really become popular after it has gone viral on pinterest. Apparently, it all started with the book “Buddha’s Diet” by data scientist and Zen priest Dan Zigmond and digital strategist and wellness writer Tara Cottrell. Subtitled “The Ancient Art of Losing Weight Without Losing Your Mind,” the book focuses on today’s fascination with mindfulness and eating. “Food for Buddha was very low-key,” says Cottrell, who explains Buddha was actually quite slim.” (The chubby statues you see in Chinese restaurants are of a monk who lived a thousand years later.)
“Buddha woke up before dawn every morning and carried his bowl through the roads or paths wherever he was staying. Local people would place food in the bowl as a donation, and at the end he would eat whatever he had been given,” explains Zigmond. “So that was the original Buddha Bowl: a big bowl of whatever food villagers had available and could afford to share. It was probably healthy, since Buddha lived before the age of cheap processed food.”
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There is no standard recipe for a Buddha Bowl, ingredients vary – vegetables, proteins, grain, dressing. The objective is to produce an overstuffed bowl resembling the belly of Buddha, as defined in UrbanDictionary.com, “a bowl which is packed so full that it has a rounded “belly” appearance on the top much like the belly of a Buddha.”
So what’s in a Buddha Bowl? Tons of veggies, roasted or served raw. A lot are vegan, served on a bed of grains (like rice or quinoa). In Style fashion magazine says their perfect bowl contains, “15% protein, 25% whole grains, 35% vegetables, 10% sauce, and 30% extras, like nuts, seeds, or sprouts.” As an example. They mentioned that all ingredients are served on brown rice, topped with roasted sweet potatoes, baby spinach and avocado. The sauce? A peanut dressing made with peanut butter, lime, sesame oil and soy sauce.
Quite funny, isn’t it? One of the biggest trends in the health food world right now is named after Buddha, popularly depicted as having a big, round belly.
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Buddha bowls are hearty, filling dishes. Whatever recipe you choose, this dish contains a wide variety of ingredients seasoned in any number of ways. What’s great about Buddha Bowls is that they’re easy to make and packed with nutrients and vitamins that aid overall health.
A word from the great Gautama Buddha, “To keep the body in good health is a duty…otherwise, we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”
