Three reasons why bowls are better than plates:
1. According to Professor Charles Spence at Oxford, when we pick up a bowl it is more likely than a plate to set up the expectation for a hearty and filling meal. The weight of the bowl is concentrated in your hand, giving a feeling of sustenance.
2. Bowls lend themselves to thrifty habits. Often when making a formal meal on a plate we would throw away the scraps that we weren't using. With bowls, we can throw in leftover nuts, beans, or veggies that wouldn't normally fit the formal plate aesthetic.
3. Spence also argues that the warmth of a bowl can make you feel happy. When your hands are warm, you perceive people around you as warmer, which can alter your perception of the surrounding environment in a positive way!
Three easy bowls to make that are kind of healthy (but not too healthy!)
1. Hard boiled eggs, roasted butternut squash/brussels sprouts/cauliflower, grilled halloumi, and pesto.
2. Shredded carrots, black rice, feta, almonds, avocado, grilled chicken, and watermelon.
3. Grilled eggplant, chickpeas, shitake mushrooms sauteed in balsamic vinegar, quinoa, and baba ghanoush.