I’ve been making these “green bowls”….or at least that’s what I call them. I know, ridiculously healthy, right? I don’t even know who I am anymore! But I’ll tell you what—ever since I started eating these green bowls a few times a week for lunch, my energy has totally increased ten-fold. For reals.
Basically, what I do is bake up some extra firm tofu….
I still use the exact same recipe/preparation method that I did back in 2008! It just can’t be beat.
While the tofu is baking, I bring some stock to a simmer and toss in some whole wheat cous-cous. And while that’s cooking, I start on my greens.
I’ve been getting a CSA bag every week from a local farm here and it has done amazing things in my veggie consumption. I’ve found that I really don’t go out of my way to BUY greens every week (it’s a nice thought though) but……if they’re already in my fridge I feel like I “have” to eat them. Plus, fresh greens from the farm are so incredibly fresh and taste much better than the wilty greens at the store.
So, I’ll throw a little olive oil in my skillet and saute up some squash (also from my CSA bag) and then once that’s tender, I’ll add my greens—-usually a big mix of kale and rainbow chard.Β I add a TON—probably four or five cups because it cooks down.
Then, I’ll put my cous-cous in the bowl, top with the greens and baked tofu and add a big squirt of both sriracha and goddess dressing. These bowls take me forever to eat and really do numbers for energy levels during the day. Plus, they’re way more fun than having a boring turkey sandwich or egg burrito every day.
Try it!
The Teenage Taste
June 2, 2011 at 1:31 pmMmmmm…that sounds fabulous! Healthy, filling, and delicious! I love it!
I’m definitely going to give this a try soon. Thanks, Jenna! π
chloe @ 321delish
June 2, 2011 at 1:31 pmthese are the days when I am jealous of those of you who work from home….I wish I could pack my kitchen in my lunch box!
Chloe (South Beach Girl)
June 2, 2011 at 1:31 pmI haven’t been able to find kale at my grocery store, I’m thinking the farmer’s market is the way to go but usually am busy on Saturdays when they’re held. However, this looks great and I love eating greens throughout the day…I guess I’ll just have to make it a priority!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
June 2, 2011 at 1:38 pmthis sounds great for dinner, no time for this at lunch. This may sound super creepy, but you have nice long fingers π
Mine are fat and ugly.
Liz
June 7, 2011 at 2:08 pmOMG – I was just thinking the same thing! LOL!
Laura
June 2, 2011 at 1:39 pmIt does look good! π I can’t soy, so might try it with some chicken breast.
(Out of interest, are you planning to revert your blog back to the old “healthy living” format? NotthatIpreferthecupcakesoranythingahem).
jenna
June 2, 2011 at 1:44 pmhehe no! The blog is staying the same…I just might add a few more “healthy” recipes to the mix.
Baking 'n' Books
June 2, 2011 at 4:59 pmIt feels like a completely different blog now – not that that’s bad though!! I just mean, it seems to have gone through another big change.
But, I guess that’s the beauty of humanity – it is ever changing and evolving.
Also – the beauty of balance – greens and cupcakes :)…as long as you stay authentic to yourself.
(Oh and that looks like Buddha bowls I hear of)…but I’d definitely need some cheese in there.
The big question though – does Adam go for it???!
Danielle @ InDeesKitchen
June 3, 2011 at 9:28 amI really like that you are “getting back to your roots.” I love cupcakes too… but they aren’t something that I can make a couple times a week. Now, healthy recipes with a cupcake one here and there – that I can do!
The tofu recipe looks great! I’m going to try that!
Estela @ Weekly Bite
June 2, 2011 at 1:42 pmI need to try your cooking method for tofu. π
My way just isn’t all the great.
Kelly @foodiefresh
June 2, 2011 at 1:48 pmThis looks so much like what I made for dinner the other night (and am posting about tonight). I’ve been getting tons of greens that are best eaten cooked in my CSA box too!
AshleyH
June 2, 2011 at 2:00 pmlooks great!
seriously though Who are you? and what happened to meat loving, cupcake gobbling Jenna?
I mean not that its a bad thing or anything but whoa!
jenna
June 2, 2011 at 2:06 pmOh, I’m still totally there! Just trying to lighten things up and remind myself to eat more veggies π
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef
June 2, 2011 at 2:08 pmlooks yummy! i do the same thing, but with quinoa or brown rice. π
Holly @ The Runny Egg
June 2, 2011 at 2:12 pmThat sounds delicious — although I wouldn’t mind an egg burrito for lunch either!
Baking 'n' Books
June 2, 2011 at 5:00 pmLOL – ditto! π
gia
June 2, 2011 at 2:13 pmI LOVE VEGGIES!! π keep em coming!!! And printed the tofu recipe, that looks fantastic to bake it, it never works right for me in a skillet.
Alexa @ Simple Eats
June 2, 2011 at 2:14 pmThis sounds amazing! I love couscous, and kale is SO good for you! Win!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss
June 2, 2011 at 2:17 pmThose sound really good! My typical inner is a lot like that only with sauteed veggies. And like you said, ever since starting to eat them I feel so much better!
Molly @ RDexposed
June 2, 2011 at 2:34 pmI feel nerdy and like I have no life when I say this…but I love healthy Jenna!!
Julie
June 2, 2011 at 7:05 pmI love healthy Jenna too. I missed her. : )
Tracie
June 3, 2011 at 6:23 amI’m new to the blog, but I’m loving “healthy Jenna”, too! I also heart kale and tofu, which pretty much makes me nerdy, too.
jennifer sundstrom
June 7, 2011 at 2:05 pmloooooove healthy jenna and want to see a better balance too!!!
Liv @ The Salty n' Sweet
June 2, 2011 at 2:38 pmWhenever I’m feeling a quick lunch, I always top some salad greens with tofu or eggs and sweet potatoes, and drizzle with tahini dressing. So good!
Christy
June 2, 2011 at 2:39 pmLooks delicious! How do you store the tofu that you don’t use right away? Put it in water?
em
June 2, 2011 at 2:44 pmsounds delish. i’ve been trying to up my green intake, too.
lately i love kale in smoothies. π
Rebecca
June 2, 2011 at 2:55 pmI’m so glad you’re sharing healthy recipes again! I need the inspiration…
Tamar
June 2, 2011 at 2:59 pmI love this vegetable trend, Jenna! Keep it up π
kaila @ healthy helper!
June 2, 2011 at 3:05 pmLooks delicious! I love making “bowls”….you always are able to fill ’em up with such yummy nutritious combos!
Susan
June 2, 2011 at 3:06 pmAnd I was hoping for a picture of the shoes!
The BF & I joined a CSA, too, and we groan a bit about too many veggies, but it really does “force” us to eat them. It’s also nice not to think too hard about what to have for dinner.
Natalie @ Point the Weigh
June 2, 2011 at 3:10 pmWhat is all this “real food” I’ve been seeing?!? Quinoa…kale…chard?? Haha..
I guess everything in moderation π You can make any recipe look delicious though, so thanks for sharing!
Heather W (RunningTowardTheFinishLine)
June 2, 2011 at 3:20 pmThis looks so good! Thanks for the wonderful idea! Can’t wait to try it out!
Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen
June 2, 2011 at 3:24 pmYum!! This looks great!
Mellie
June 2, 2011 at 3:27 pmTofu has always freaked me out, but this would be really good with lean chicken or fish!
Averie (LoveVeggiesandYoga)
June 2, 2011 at 3:28 pmAwesome to hear your CSA share is helping you with your veggie consumption….yay!
I totally agree AND that it helps with very diverse veggies b/c I get in the habit of buying the same kinds but when there’s bok choy and turnips and fava beans in the box, well, that’s what I have that week π
Love your blast-from-the-past tofu recipe/technique!
Justeen @ Blissful Baking
June 2, 2011 at 3:56 pmThis sounds like my kind of lunch! I do a similar green bowl with quinoa instead of cous cous because that’s what I usually have on hand. And if I’m too lazy to saute the veggies, I just use raw kale or spinach, plus whatever else I have in the fridge!
Maria
June 2, 2011 at 4:11 pmI think avocado and mustard would be great topped over a bowl like that.
How often do yo u eat tofu?
Just had smoked packaged tofu with my lunch today. The smoked was good;
kate
June 2, 2011 at 4:25 pmooh your bowls sound amazing I love tofu and greens!! im not a fan of couscous but it might be good over quinoa or spelt berries!
Ruth
June 2, 2011 at 4:33 pmI think I need some green bowl goodness right now. It looks great!
Annie@stronghealthyfit
June 2, 2011 at 4:38 pmMmm that kale looks scrumptius!
Amber K
June 2, 2011 at 5:24 pmI’m loving these new recipes! Much easier to make veggie-friendly and adapt to gluten-free. I love reading your blog in general, but hey…I can eat that! Just gotta sub in quinoa π
Wine Girl (Kitchen Doesn't Travel)
June 2, 2011 at 5:49 pmMy hubby and I have totally been talking about trying to reduce our meat consumption lately and I was struggling with where to find good vegetarian recipes. I completely forgot that I’ve had that Whole Foods app on my iPhone for like 2 YEARS!! Thanks for the reminder!!
M
June 2, 2011 at 6:35 pmYum, these “healthy” posts appeal to me much more than the baking/sweets-thanks Jenna!
(I have more savoury than sweet addictions!)
I make something like this-always just throw it together….
includes greens like kale,sometimes a little broccoli,sometimes
some cubed sweet potato or once ina ble moon tofu and I sautee it all together with
drizzles of maple syrup and sriracha sauce (yum-the spicy and sweet
add ins make it soooo scrumptious!)
I like tofu but have avoided it a bit since I have been reading not so good for us….
Sometimes I wonder how healthy all these frozen premade veggie burgers
are, but I guess most frozen processed foods are not as ideal as real food.
Loving these latest posts-thanks so much for sharing Jenna!!! π
Julien
June 2, 2011 at 7:04 pmI *love* your new recipes. I can’t wait to see what’s next. And your coffee cup is really cute.
amy walters, aDESIGNdock
June 2, 2011 at 8:42 pmLove the mix of of sweets, meats and veggie recipes. My eating style is a bit all over the map, so this works perfectly.
amy*
Ps. Not to make us Canadians look totally clueless, but what are CSA bags?! π
Khushboo
June 2, 2011 at 10:38 pmI like the recent addition of healthy foods on the blog- leaves room to also indulge in the sweet stuff ;)! I love salads for lunch! I’m a volume eater + they take forever to eat. Plus once you get in a good dose of veggies as your base, who’s to say you can’t have fun with toppings π
Alejandra @ mouthfulsandmorsels.wordpress.com
June 2, 2011 at 11:21 pmThis is great!! Always looking for new ways to add more veggies to the mix. Will be trying this tomorrow!
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes
June 3, 2011 at 3:52 amYou make your own tofu?!!? That’s amazing!
Sahar
June 3, 2011 at 8:25 amThanks for sharing such a simple, healthy and yummy lunch idea. I’m always stumped when I get tired of the same old salads and sandwiches. I tried this today, except with brown rice because that was all I had. What type of squash works best in this? I totally forgot that part…but didn’t have any anyways. I could have used mushrooms though.
Cat @ Breakfast to Bed
June 3, 2011 at 10:17 amI think if you add some liquid aminos in with your greens when you cook them, you’d be surprised at how little dressing you need!
Andy
June 3, 2011 at 11:01 amI love the combo of healthy and sweet recipes! keep it up! I was actually starting to miss the actual food receipe posts! I don’t get why people are freaking out about a little veggies. No one can eat sweets ALL of the time…..
Meghan
June 3, 2011 at 1:01 pmI just stumbled across your blog and just made this for lunch- i did a variation on your version of baked tofu (so good! and way simpler than my usual recipe) and then sauteed broccoli and spinach with mushroom broth, bragg’s and garlic. All over left over couscous. AMAZING. My new fav meal. Thanks for the inspiration!
Gina (Yogattude)
June 3, 2011 at 2:29 pmI’ve been eating these types of lunches lately too and took the extra energy and lightness for granted! I had a big heavy sandwich today that was completely delicious, but left me feeling kinda blah. Actually it feels like a brick in my tummy! Definently going back to the greens and grains lunches again next week!
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