This meal builder is all about helping you simplify your goal of eating healthy. You simply pick the specified number of items from each category and put your meal together. I envision the final products as bowls, but you can easily turn it into soup or an entree and sides- put it together any way you want! Each category is filled with healthy options and even has blank spaces to fill in your favorites.
If you want to learn more about simplifying big lofty goals down into attainable actionable ones, read my Healthy Habits installment: Make It Simple. Need some tip & tricks for planning balanced meals for the week? Check out my Meal Planning Cheat Sheet.
Try This: Keep a few things from each category on hand so you can easily put together a healthy meal when you don’t have much time or a plan.
For a printable version of the Meal Builder Cheat Sheet, click on the button below
Tips & Tricks for the Make It Simple Meal Builder:
Savored Joy has recipes for several of the spice blends and sauces listed.
You can purchase pre-made spice blends. Just be sure to check ingredients carefully for fillers, MSG, salt, etc. Buy organic spices when possible.
If purchasing pesto rather than making it, check ingredients. Pesto should have olive oil- be alert to inflammatory oils.
If purchasing marinara, check ingredients carefully and watch sugar content.
For red meat, I suggest no more than 1-2 servings per week.
For toppings, add as many as you like except for cheese. With cheese, be mindful of portion size.
Adjust portion sizes to your individual needs.
Don’t go too heavy with the base. I find bowls tend to get bigger than you intended otherwise.
Use the blank spaces under each category to add your favorites that aren’t listed.
If you are using this to plan dinner (or lunches) for the week, I suggest making each bowl last for two meals. This allows you to simplify in another way by reducing meal prep and utilizing leftovers.
For ease, this meal builder was imagined as bowls, but you can put it together anyway you’d like. Make it into a soup, base or veggies could be a side, greens could turn into a salad.
For proteins, particularly meats, season with salt, pepper and garlic powder when cooking and some of your chosen spice blend to it. For ground meats, make patties or leave crumbled.
Use oils for roasting veggies, cooking meat, drizzling on top, etc.
Want a healthy recipe inspired by this Meal Builder?
