14 Vegetarian Lunch Bowls for Better Gut Health
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
Give your midday meal a gut-healthy boost with these satisfying vegetarian lunch bowls. Packed with fiber-rich ingredients like whole grains, beans, vegetables and legumes and/or probiotic-packed foods like kimchi and yogurt, these recipes can help support healthy digestion and nourish beneficial gut bacteria. From colorful grain bowls to hearty bean-packed lunches, there's plenty of variety to add to your routine. Try our Chickpea & Sweet Potato Grain Bowls and No-Cook White Bean & Avocado Bowls for a balanced, delicious and filling lunch.
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Chickpea & Sweet Potato Grain Bowls
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
This sweet potato and chickpea bowl will make your gut happy! This nutrient-dense bowl is rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants, which support a healthy digestive system. Sorghum (a gluten-free ancient grain) is packed with fiber and essential nutrients that aid digestion and support gut health, and the deliciously tangy yogurt-based drizzle offers a probiotic boost.
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No-Cook White Bean & Avocado Bowls
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward.
This no-cook bean and avocado bowl comes together in just 10 minutes, making it a great option for a quick lunch or light dinner. It's an easy, satisfying way to enjoy a plant-forward meal with minimal prep.
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Green Goddess Chickpea Bowl
Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer.
This veggie-packed chickpea bowl features hearty chickpeas and quinoa topped with an herby green goddess dressing made creamy with Greek-style yogurt and avocado. It's a satisfying vegetarian lunch or light dinner that delivers fiber, protein and fresh flavor in every bite.
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Roasted Veggie & Black Bean Bowls
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
These roasted veggie and black bean bowls featuring sweet potatoes, poblano peppers and red onion are bursting with bold flavors. Together, these ingredients deliver a hearty, fiber-packed meal that also offers a healthy dose of plant-based protein. Add a tangy scoop of guacamole, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and more of your favorite toppings and you'll have a vibrant, satisfying dinner for your regular rotation.
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No-Cook Black Bean Taco Bowls
Credit: Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek.
These black bean taco bowls with lime crema are a refreshing no-cook meal that's perfect for busy days. They feature hearty black beans, veggies and zesty toppings layered over crispy cabbage and lettuce. The lime crema adds a tangy, creamy finish that brings all the flavors together. Enjoy these effortless bowls with the suggested toppings below, or customize them with your own favorites.
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Loaded Chopped Taco Salad Bowl
Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer.
This no-cook taco salad bowl is packed with fiber and plant-based protein from black beans. A medley of toppings, including crispy lettuce, sweet bell peppers, cotija cheese and pickled onions, add texture and flavor. A tangy lime vinaigrette completes the quick, colorful meal that's perfect for lunch or dinner.
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Chickpea-Eggplant Bowls with Tahini
Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
These colorful vegetarian bowls feature smoky roasted eggplant, crisp arugula and creamy tahini, all layered over a bold and nutty roasted red pepper sauce. The sauce and dressing can be prepped ahead, making this dish ideal for a make-ahead-friendly plant-based dinner.
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Savory Oatmeal Grain Bowl
Credit: Abbey Littlejohn
Savory oats are an underrated way to enjoy the whole grain—the toppings are endless! Cooking oats in soy milk is an easy way to add protein to this hearty grain bowl. Here, we top the oats with a bright roasted red pepper-olive mixture and a poached egg for richness.
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Black Bean–Quinoa Bowl
Credit: Photography: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabe Greco
This black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We've loaded it with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado, plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.
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Chickpea Grain Bowl with Feta & Tomatoes
Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali.
This chickpea-farro grain bowl is a hearty dish that's packed with plant-based protein, fiber and tons of fresh flavor. Farro, a whole grain with a nutty taste and chewy texture, forms the base and pairs perfectly with tender chickpeas and veggies. If you don't have farro on hand, you can easily swap in quinoa, brown rice or barley.
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Buffalo Cauliflower Grain Bowl
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower
This Buffalo cauliflower grain bowl is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional Buffalo wings, packing plenty of gut-healthy fiber and plant-based protein. It features a variety of fresh and colorful vegetables on a bed of precooked brown rice to keep prep speedy. Feel free to swap out the rice for another whole grain.
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Roasted Broccoli & Kimchi Rice Bowl
Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Christina Brockman
This well-rounded kimchi rice bowl is packed with fiber and probiotic foods like kimchi and yogurt to support a healthy gut. Prebiotic foods like edamame and garlic add flavor and additional gut-healthy benefits. Gochugaru is a Korean chile powder with a smoky-sweet flavor and mild heat. You can use a combination of crushed red pepper and paprika in its place.
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Grilled Vegetable & Black Bean Farro Bowls
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
These bowls are filled with all the hearty goodness of a black bean and veggie burrito, minus the tortilla. Nutty, chewy farro takes the place of rice, and the veggies are grilled with a zesty lime vinaigrette. The bowls are delicious at room temperature, but you can also heat the beans with a splash of vegetable broth and reheat the vegetables in a small skillet.
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Roasted Potato Tzatziki Bowls
Credit: Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Christina Daley
Our roasted potato tzatziki bowls are the perfect plant-based dinner, with bright, fresh and creamy flavors in every bite. Crispy, golden roasted potatoes are the centerpiece, accompanied by a tangy, herb-packed tzatziki sauce at the base. Loaded with fresh veggies like cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and red onion with a side of chickpeas for added fiber and plant-based protein, these bowls deliver big on flavor and nutrition.
Read the original article on EatingWell
