A colourful Buddha bowl that’ll give you ALL the post-workout energy you need

Louise Carroll

Brought to you by Centra.

Summer is having us embrace the outdoors even more and it’s making for a feel-good health buzz too.

Now, we know it’s no easy feat maintaining a healthy diet, BUT it’s entirely worth it to feel great and take on more of life’s offerings.

This week, as part of our LEAN video series with Centra, we’ve got another yummy meal that’s simple to prep AND it provides an effective macro eating plan. Macronutrients provide us with energy. They include carbohydrates, proteins and fats, and we need them in large amounts every day, so the easier we find it to get them in, the better.

Keep an eye on the Her Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages for a new and effortless recipe each week. This week, we’ve got a deliciously wholesome Buddha bowl. (NOM.) See how to make it here:

Now if you’re wondering what makes this dish just so darn good, well…

For a start, you’ll remain satisfied for hours and with lots of energy too. The reason is the buddha bowl is a high protein, fibre and carbohydrate dish. Eating from a bowl has its benefits also, would you believe?

Professor Charles Spence who studies the psychology of food at the University of Oxford explained to The Guardian that eating from a bowl actually makes people think the food tastes nicer and “the weight [of the bowl] is likely to make your brain think the food is more substantial,” plus “you’re likely to rate it as more intensely aromatic than exactly the same food on a plate.”

Fancy that.

So within the Buddha bowl, those yummy chickpeas are providing 46 calories per 28 gram serving – a moderate amount. Approximately 67 per cent of those calories are from carbohydrates while the rest come from protein and a small amount of fat. They provide a variety of vitamins and minerals, plus a decent amount of fibre. Their protein content is especially great for anyone avoiding animal products.

A 28 gram serving provides about three grams of protein, which is comparable to the protein content in similar foods like black beans and lentils. The protein in chickpeas helps us to feel full and keep our appetite under control too. Ideal.

Sweet potatoes contain fibre and antioxidants that promote the growth of good gut bacteria, protecting our body from free-radical damage and helping to reduce inflammation too.

Sweet potatoes contain two types of fibre – soluble and insoluble. Our body doesn’t actually digest fibre so therefore it stays within our digestive tract, providing a variety of gut-related health benefits. Sweet.

The nutrient-dense root vegetables (that come in a variety of colours) also promote a healthy brain. They’re incredibly rich in beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A, therefore supporting our vision and immune system. Sweet potatoes are versatile and are super popular in both sweet and savoury dishes. They’re a much-loved carb option and for good reason.

Now, some of us may still be haunted by the days of having to sit at the table until we finished our cauliflower but… it’s entirely worth taking the time to understand this wonderful veggie.

Cauliflower provides a significant amount of antioxidants which of course reduce inflammation and therefore the signs of ageing and risk of chronic disease too. Anyone watching their weight will appreciate that cauliflower is low in calories but high in fibre and water.

Now, who’s for that Buddha bowl?

Brought to you by Centra.