Make a simple, delicious and healthy meal for any time of day with ingredients you have on hand and these mix and match ideas.
Mix and Match Grain Bowl

Ingredients
- (see Notes for ingredient ideas)
- 2 cups cooked grains
- 2 cups chopped vegetables (raw or cooked any way you choose)
- 12 ounces cooked protein, cut bite-sized (about 2 cups)
- ¼ cup topping
- ¼ to ½ cup sauce or dressing
Directions
- Wash hands with soap and water. Gather ingredients and 4 bowls.
- Spoon about ½ cup of the grain into each bowl.
- Arrange ¼ of the vegetables and protein on top of or around the grains in each bowl.
- Drizzle 1 to 2 Tablespoons of the dressing over each bowl.
- Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon of topping over the top.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes
Ingredient Ideas
Protein – try cooked chicken, beef, pork, seafood, tofu, tempeh, beans, lentils or eggs
Vegetables – use any mixture of fresh, frozen or canned
Grains – try whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat or oats
Topping – try something crunchy or chewy like nuts, seeds, raw or pickled vegetables, microgreens or fresh or dried fruit
Sauce or dressing – use a prepared dressing or salsa, or try one of these Food Hero recipes:
- Oil and vinegar dressing from Food Hero Plant Part Salad or Spring Green Salad
- Orange ginger dressing from Food Hero Carrot Ginger Salad
- Food Hero Cucumber Yogurt Dip, Lemony Garbanzo Bean Dip, Hummus, Ranch Dressing or Peanut Sauce
- Food Hero Salsa Roja, Salsa Verde or Pico de Gallo and avocado (slice, dice or mash)
You might also like...
Potato Salad

Potato Salad
A creamy classic potato salad with tangy mustard and crunchy celery. Perfect potluck or summer BBQ dish.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Makes:
8 cups
Fish and Spinach Bake

Fish and Spinach Bake
Healthy baked fish with fresh and frozen veggies and cajun spices.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
8 Servings
Carrot, Jicama and Orange Salad

Carrot, Jicama and Orange Salad
Fresh and colorful salad with a tangy homemade dressing!
Prepare:
20 minutes
Makes:
4 Cups
Pasta with Greens and Beans

Pasta with Greens and Beans
Classic Italian flavors combine to make the perfect pasta dinner.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
8 cups
Tuna Pasta Salad

Tuna Pasta Salad
Classic summer dish with macaroni, fresh veggies, and a creamy dressing.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
6 cups
Popeye Power Smoothie

Popeye Power Smoothie
This tasty green smoothie is sweet, creamy, and refreshing!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Comments
We used this recipe for a "Cook Along" and enjoyed seeing the variety of yummy-looking bowls people created. Buckwheat was the whole grain of choice because it cooks quickly. Some mentioned how easy it would be to use this template for breakfast, subbing fruit for vegetables if desired. The template also works as a simple approach to planning a meal from what's on hand.