My friend, Jane Marie, once told me that the secret to a pretty potted plant arrangement is in this simple formula: the thrill, the fill and the spill. Jane Marie is fabulous at home decorating and the general beautifying of everything in general— a talent I long for, but lack. Since I don’t have a picture of the beautiful thrill, fill and spill technique due to my inability to recreate it, I googled it and found this thrill, fill, spill pot, if you’re interested.
What I lack in potting technique, I make up for in healthy eating ability. (…is that an ability? Eh, just roll with it). I, too, have a catchy phrase that guarantees a healthy, balanced meal that can be thrown together quickly if you’ve done Sunday prep work. In fact, I use this formula almost daily for lunch. So what is it?
A Grain
A Green
and
A Bean
The fun thing about this combo is that the possibilities are endless and you’re meal is guaranteed to be healthy and balanced. Well, unless you pour on too much buffalo ranch. That might negate some of the health benefits!
It can take salad form, but it doesn’t have to.
Grain: brown rice Green: mixed greens Bean: black bean
No need to feel limited by one green; you can load in as many veggies as you’d like!
Grain: quinoa Green: spinach Bean: chickpea
Adding in cheese, like goat or feta, can make it extra tasty!
Grain: barley Green: kale Bean: missing, but could easily be chickpeas
Try adding hot pepper sauce or balsamic dressing to give it more flavor.
Grain: brown rice Green: collards Bean: Pinto
Decorative presentation is completely optional.
Grain: quinoa Green: kale Bean: cannellini
These go-to lunches of mine are light, yet usually keep me full for while. If I prep grains and beans on Sunday, then I can throw these combos together in minutes, which is fabulous with a quick toddler on my heels!
Do you have a go to healthy meal?
**Edited to add a great point from Jen – FAT. I usually have olive oil incorporated, even if it’s just drizzled on top, but totally forgot to say anything about it- probably because it didn’t rhyme 
– Fat will definitely increase the staying-power of the meal. Thanks Jen!**
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I need to change up the kind of grain I use. 99% of the time it’s quinoa and while it’s good for you and tastes great with just about anything, it can get a little boring. I’ve been meaning to buy a little barley and experiment with it. Any other favorites I should try?
Barley is by far my favorite! It’s chewy and flavorful. Brown rice is m go-to, though it gets dull after a while, too. I keep meaning to try millet.
i would add in “a fat.” i find that i need some sort of healthy fat like avocado, oils or nuts for staying power.
Ah, yes, very good point! I guess my combos usually do have a fat of some sort. Too bad it doesn’t go with my rhyme
I was going to say the same thing. A source of good fat is essential to me for not only staying power, but for overall meal satisfaction.
kim @ vegan mama recently posted..168 hours
I would love to have you make my meals on a daily basis:) Guess I’ll just have to make time to do prep work.
Every single one of those meals looks delicious! I love the formula : )
Danica @ It’s Progression recently posted..enjoy a healthy weekend
Salads are my mainly go to meal as well. You can just add anything to them and for the most part they are super delicious. I think all these look awesome. I should probably get into the habit of switching my grains and greens more, since I know it’s good to alternate those.
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We eat Paleo, so no grains (except we allow a little rice and quinao), but this is a good idea for people who do! My goal for lunches for me and the baby are meat, veggie, fruit. She gets at least one of those each meal.
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You forgot cheese
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