A Big Bowl of Delicious

I'm a big fan of one pot - or even one bowl - meals. Yes, this is made easier by the fact that I generally have only myself to feed so it might not entirely translate for everyone. But it's convenient and most of the time leaves only one dish to wash. It's also a good way to make sure that you're putting the essentials: carbs, protein, and plenty of veggies. My roommate often peers into a bowl that I'm eating out of to try to figure out everything I've put in it (my love of one-bowl meals is even reflected in my blog logo!). Inspired by an acquaintance who recently told me that he was having a hard time figuring out what to eat for lunch during the one day a week he was eating vegetarian, here are a few of my favorite ridiculously-easy-to-make one bowl vegetarian meals...

Mediterranean Mélange: Orzo mixed with sliced cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, garbonzo beans, feta, and some balsamic vinegar and black pepper (if desired). This one is delicious both hot and cold and can easily be stuffed into a pita for easy portability if needed.

Mexican Jumble: Brown rice mixed with black beans, canned tomato with jalapeno, frozen spinach, and reduced fat shredded cheddar melted on top. Yum. If you're an athlete wrap it in a tortilla for that extra carb boost.

Vegan Health Nut: Quinoa with diced beets, green beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and parsley. This one is very pretty as the beets turn the quinoa pink!

Thai Peanut Veggie: Brown rice with steamed broccoli, shredded carrot, cubed tofu, cilantro, cucumber, and peanut sauce (either bottled or mix some peanut butter with water and soy sauce).

Creamy Noodles and Veg: Pasta shells with one or two melted wedges of laughing cow cheese (and a splash of nonfat milk), spinach, and tomatoes.

You get the gist by now: take a grain (brown rice, bulger, quinoa, pasta, couscous), add lots of veggies that complement each other (the more color variety the better), some form of protein (beans, nuts, cheese, tofu), and optional sauce or topping (balsamic vinegar, olive oil, melted cheese) and voila! Delicious, nutritious, hearty meal ready in no time.