What Is A Buddha Bowl?

It’s literally on everyone’s lips at the moment: The Buddha Bowl. But what is the healthy treat anyway?

According to legend, the Buddha Bowl gets its name from its shape, as it is a bowl of delicacies that curves slightly upwards, like Buddha’s belly.

Where does the Buddha Bowl come from?

The name Buddha Bowl is not a publicity stunt this time but is deeply rooted in Buddhism. In the monasteries, the monks come together for the daily devotional feeding and fill their bowls from an even larger pot. This post is also called “Zuhatsu” or Buddha Bowl in Japanese and symbolizes the wisdom of Buddha, which he shares with his followers. The food is then eaten together in a meditative manner. The legend about the curvature of the bowl is therefore incorrect.

What’s in the Buddha Bowl?

Even if food bloggers are now marketing the Buddha Bowl in a way that is suitable for advertising, this dish has been around in Buddhism for a few centuries. What the Instagram generation has correctly adopted, however, are the basic ingredients that every Buddha bowl should contain. It’s all about getting as many nutrients as possible into the body with relatively little food.

The Do’s and Don’ts of a Buddha Bowl

However, many nutrients do not mean that everything is allowed in a Buddha Bowl. In a traditional Buddha Bowl, greasy cheese is just as taboo as meat or fish. Buddha Bowls are vegetarian or vegan. Nowadays there are also Buddha bowls with meat. A Buddha Bowl is usually structured as follows:

• 25 percent carbohydrates: That can be rice. Quinoa, potatoes (also sweet potatoes), and grains are at least as important.
• 25 percent protein: Tofu or other soy products are suitable for this. Chickpeas or beans also work well.
• 40 percent vegetables or fruit: It is important here that the vegetables or fruit should be included in at least four different variations.
• 10 percent healthy fats: For example avocado, which has a real health secret, or nuts.

So that the whole thing is not too dry, sauces can be used. The soy sauce is of course particularly popular, but a homemade sauce is also perfectly fine.

The Benefits of a Buddha Bowl

One advantage cannot be ignored, even if it should be obvious after these explanations. A Buddha Bowl gives the body all the vitamins and minerals it needs. And all without meat. Also important: It is very easy to prepare and can also be made from leftovers from the day before if necessary. And there is a multitude of possible combinations! Potatoes alone can be prepared in so many different ways that completely different dishes are created from them. The Buddha Bowl is also aesthetically pleasing. It is always wonderfully colorful and whets the appetite, because, as is well known, the eye eats with it.