Food trend “bowl” – everything in one bowl

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What is a food bowl?

A food bowl is a dish in which all the ingredients are prepared and served in a bowl. The individual components are not mixed, but draped on top of and next to each other for a more attractive look. The food bowl trend has many names that more or less describe the exact contents of the bowls. In general, these dishes are referred to as food bowls or Buddha bowls, whereas veggie bowls, vegan bowls, rainbow bowls, and detox bowls describe more specifically what goes into the bowls: vegetarian, vegan, colorful foods, or ingredients for detoxing. The practical dishes are suitable for every dietary style: whether vegetarian, low carb, gluten-free or vegan. Most food bowls can be prepared in just a few minutes without much effort. This variety means that bowls are not just ideal for lunch – there are bowl recipes for every meal of the day.

The healthy bowl for every occasion

The delicious dishes served in bowls are not only popular worldwide, but also at any time of day. There are now bowls for breakfast (porridge bowls, acai bowls), bowls for in between meals (smoothie bowls) and bowls as a filling main meal, preferably with fish, chicken or tofu (poké bowls). There is the Buddha bowl (particularly salad- and vegetable-based, mostly vegetarian and inspired by the cuisine of Asian monks) and the noodle bowl, as well as several others.

Breakfast
The possible combinations here are virtually unlimited: Oat flakes, granola, coconut flakes, amaranth, millet, porridge, chia, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit or dried fruit. Hearty breakfast bowls can be prepared with vegetables, eggs, scrambled eggs, salmon, ham, chickpeas, potatoes or tofu.

Lunch
For lunch, offer easily digestible bowls that your guests can eat quickly during their lunch break. This means adding light ingredients to the bowl that provide plenty of energy for the rest of the day: preferably complex carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, lentils or quinoa, served with fresh vegetables and a nice sauce. Vegetarian bowls can be refined with delicious toppings such as falafel, hummus, halloumi or feta cheese. And vegans also get their money’s worth with this delicious food trend. Vegetables, rice, quinoa etc. can be combined in any way you like it, topped with a tasty dressing, a few nuts and the vegan bowl is transformed into a filling and delicious meal.

Dinner
In the evening, the bowls can be a little more unusual and elaborate. Food bowls do not always have to be vegetarian, tasty recipes can also be created with meat or fish. Vegetables and salad can be combined with minced meat or chicken strips, for example, to create delicious dishes.

What goes into the bowl?

A food bowl usually only needs five main components: Carbohydrates, protein, vegetables or fruit, sauces and dips as well as toppings. The proportions of the various components can vary according to taste or the desired effect. For example, you can offer low carb bowls and reduce the carbohydrates or include energy bowls with lots of energy sources on the menuforathletes.

• Carbohydrates (approx. 20%):
  The carbohydrates ensure that the bowl fills you up. This means that, in addition to cooked potatoes, grains such as wheat, spelt, millet and oats or, alternatively, buckwheat, quinoa or brown rice are the right choice.
• Proteins (approx. 20%):
  Protein-containing foods are added to the bowl as an important source of protein. In most cases, plant-based alternatives such as pulses and tofu are used instead of animal products. Eggs or different types of cheese such as feta or halloumi are also suitable for the vegetarian version. For guests who do not want to do without animal products, the food bowls are refined with meat or fish.
• Vegetables, salads and fruit (approx. 40%):
  Vegetables and fruit provide important vitamins as well as the visual effect of the social media trend. The colorful ingredients allow for creative bowl arrangements: whether it is the juicy green of an avocado, the bright orange of a carrot, the soft yellow of a banana or the deep red of beetroot.
• Healthy fats and toppings (approx. 10%):
  Healthy toppings are a must for a food bowl. Not only do they provide the body with important vitamins and minerals, they are also ideal for creating visual highlights. Typical toppings are crunchy nuts, fresh sprouts or roasted seeds.
• Extras such as sauces and dips (approx. 10%):
  Of course, the various ingredients must also be harmoniously combined. The best way to achieve this is with the right sauce. An Asian bowl is perfect with an exotic chili and mango dip, a bowl of salad with a tasty dressing and a vegetarian bowl can be served with hummus, guacamole or a simple vinaigrette.

Where does the trend come from?

The trend comes from the USA. This is where the popular food bowls from the clean eating movement originated. In this movement, people try to eat as much healthy food as possible and avoid ready-made products. These healthy and mainly unprocessed foods quickly became popular not only with clean eaters, but also with anyone who pays attention to a conscious diet. Thanks to the beautiful presentation and the countless different recipe ideas, food bowls quickly conquered Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

Food bowls – advantages at a glance

Food bowls are very healthy as they consist mainly of natural, nutritious products and represent a balanced diet. As we cook and prepare without ready-made products, only the best ingredients go into the bowl. Complex carbohydrates provide important energy and cause blood sugar levels to rise only slowly. Proteins are important for supplying nerve and muscle cells. Vegetables and fruit provide vitamins and minerals. And the healthy fats in avocado, olives and nuts also contribute to a balanced diet.

Enjoy versatility
Almost every bowl recipe is an exciting taste experience thanks to the variety of ingredients. There are all kinds of different textures and flavors: sour, sweet, spicy, salty, umami, crunchy, crispy, soft – all combined in one bowl, but not mixed together. Then there are the hot and cold contrasts that give a bowl that extra touch of flair.

If you want to conjure up particularly sustainable bowls, you can follow the seasonal calendar and buy locally. In winter, Brussels sprouts, parsnips and savoy cabbage are added to the bowl, whereas in spring and summer it becomes more summery with asparagus, tomatoes, strawberries and the like.

Quick and easy preparation
Preparing a bowl is quick and easy and there are no rules. We can let our imagination and gut feeling run wild and combine things however we like. More elaborate dishes are easy to prepare and leftovers from the previous day can also be used.

You eat with your eyes first
One clear advantage of Buddha bowls and similar dishes is their appearance. The colorful bowls can be designed completely creatively. New combinations and ideas are constantly appearing on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Of course, this also means free advertising for your company. The beautiful dishes invite you to eat and take photos. And, as we all know, you eat with your eyes first.

Source (original in German):
Vega Schweiz AG – catering supplies / www.vega-direct.com/ch-de

Written, edited and published by: Richemont Centre of Excellence