sometimes it’s all about easy.
in my mind, it’s always about flavor. but sometimes, it’s a rush to fix a portable lunch and get out of the door to work in the morning, no time to fix a proper lunch because little people are yanking on your pants leg, or you are just plum out of ideas for something new to eat. then you need easy.
the recipe redux chicks asked us to share our easy lunch ideas this month.
unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know all about the smoothie bowl craze. i may be, however, the only person around that has never had a smoothie bowl. nothing at all against the bowl itself or the people who make them, but they’re just not my bag, baby.
although i understand you can add protein to them and they’re not much different at all than the smoothie, i feel it is the rather high potential for a good hefty bowl-full of fruit sugars (fructose) at one time. fructose malabsorption can cause cramping, bloating, and more GI issues. it is not uncommon to see people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity to also have problems with fructose. especially large doses of fructose, like a smoothie bowl.
so, enter the nut butter bowl.
this is my answer to a bowl-full of delicious, gluten-free, high protein, healthy fat goodness.
i stir some banana (low in fructose, but sufficiently sweet) into my peanut butter. this not only sweetens the nut butter, but also makes it less glue-y and thick. then i top it (a la smoothie bowl topping… pretty toppings all in a row) with yummy extras. this usually involves additional banana, pecans, and cacao nibs. but can be anything really… almond butter or cashew butter. pepitas, sunflower seeds, acai, almonds, walnuts, chocolate chips to top… see the options are limitless.
it’s super portable and simple. it’s my go-to lunch and even dessert many nights.
so let’s start a new craze… jump on board the nut butter bowl.
Nut Butter Bowl
Ingredients
- 2-3 tablespoons organic peanut butter
- banana
- pecan pieces
- cacao nibs
Instructions
- Combine peanut butter and about half of banana in a small bowl; stir and smush together to combine.
- Top with additional chopped banana, pecan pieces, and cacao nibs.
