3 Step Meal Prep: Roasted Vegetable, Whole Grains Bowls

Tips for cooking grains!

• Add canned vegetables, such as tomatoes, corn, peas or beans to the grains for added flavor. This is also an easy way to get a few more veggies in, especially for those picky eaters!
• Chop up onions and garlic, saute, and add to grains before cooking for flavor
• Cooking grains in low-sodium vegetable or chicken stock is another way to add flavor. You can buy stock at the store or make it yourself. If you have high blood pressure, check the sodium content on the nutrition label of any store bought stocks and pick the one with the least amount. You can use half water and half stock to reduce the sodium and add flavor.

           Vegetables seem to be the hardest food group to get people to eat. 87% of Americans do not meet daily recommendations for vegetable intake (Moore & Thompson, 2015).  For those who tend to pass on the veggies, roasting them is a great method to add flavor without adding excessive calories!

Peppers, Sweet Potato, and Squash

To roast vegetables, set your oven to at least 450 degrees and slice up a variety of vegetables. Tonight we are using sweet potato, orange pepper, red pepper, brussel sprouts, and squash. I like to start with fresh vegetables most of the time, because I find they stay crunchy better than frozen. Although, I do use frozen vegetables sometimes depending what is available on island. Today, we are using
frozen brussel sprouts, and they turned out well! The brussel sprouts came in a steamer bag so I microwaved them for a few minutes before roasting.

Diced Peppers and Squash

Once chopped, toss vegetables in a couple teaspoons of olive oil. Feel free to try other oils as well, like sesame oil for an Asian inspired bowl! Next, season with a little black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Sometimes I go crazy with the spices in my cabinet, throwing in a random assortment! Last, spread veggies on a baking sheet and throw in the oven for 15-25 minutes until slightly browned and softened to desire. Tip: Sprinkling a pinch of sugar over the vegetables will help them brown in the oven!

          This last step is optional. Tonight we didn’t use any additional protein. If you choose, top off your bowl with a lean protein, such as grilled chicken, fish, shrimp, or tofu over other types of meats. More and more research is suggesting that  certain types of red and processed meats may be linked to colon cancer (Carr et al, 2016).  Additionally, animal meat, especially red and processed meats, are high in saturated fats and cholesterol. This does not mean you should never eat meat, but try to limit the amount of animal products you consume each day by eating at least one meatless meal (if not more!).

When adding a protein to your grain bowl, prepare using a method that adds little fat and calories, such as baking or grilling, or preparing on the stove top with less than 2 tsp oil or butter per serving. One of my favorite easy ways to marinate boneless, skinless chicken breast is with a light Italian dressing. Then bake in the over at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.