Buddha Bowls are ideal for the Pegan diet, small quantities of food that fit the needs of the Diet.
The Pegan Diet is a combination of Paleo and Vegan diets and was developed by Mark Hyman and is the latest craze in the world of diets.
Frankly, I had never heard of it and when Veena of Veena’s VegNation suggested it for our #184FoodieMondayBlogHop I was sure it was an autocorrect mistake.
But when Veena suggested we Google it, it opened the world a whole new world of the latest diet.
Naturally, anything new and different had me obsessed with it and I was glad I am not the only one. The whats up chat was flooded with references and sites we could refer to for Pegan Diet.
So let us see what the Pegan diet means, before a little about Paleo and Vegan Diets
The paleo diet is also called a caveman’s diet. We eat what prehistoric men ate- seeds, nuts, vegetables, lean meats, fish and fruits. Vegan Diet leans to the other extreme with no animal products which includes dairy or honey.
Buddha Bowl
Pegan Diet is the middle ground where, according to Dr Hyman, real whole, fresh food in its natural state free of processed ingredients, refined carbohydrates, and additives are the best.
For people who cannot do without meats yes you can eat them sparingly but it has to be meat that is necessarily grass-fed.
In case you are planning to follow the diet here are the do’s and don’ts. I have referred to various articles to form my ideas of the diet the chief sites I looked into are
Please note these are my inferences and I am not qualified to say if the diet is good or bad. Please consult a doctor and a nutritionist before you follow the diet.
So in the Pegan Diet, you can eat vegetables, in fact, ¾ or 75% of your food should be vegetables. But wait
- The veggies you are allowed are basically non-starchy vegetables.
- Sugary fruits are again disallowed.
- Proteins meats and fish you can eat but have to be sustainably sourced (meaning sourcing integrating ethical, social and environmental performances into account) and grass-fed meats. Don’t forget meats also contribute to the fats you consume.
- Meats are more like condiments and not the main course.
- Grains and Legumes are allowed but should not exceed ½ cup per meal and legumes not more than 1 cup per day respectively.
I have tried to make tables for foods that are allowed, sparingly and disallowed as an easy diet guide.
What you are allowed table:
Veggies |
Fruits |
Oils |
Proteins |
Grains and Legumes |
Nuts and Seeds |
| Cauliflower, Broccoli, Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Mushrooms, Leafy vegetables, Bamboo shoots, Brussels sprouts | Apples, Berries that are dark, Cherries, Mangoes, Pineapples, Citric fruits, Avocado, Pears | Omega-3 fats, Olive oil, Nuts, Seeds, Avocado oil and olive oils that are cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil. | Turkey, Beef, Salmon, Chicken, Shrimps, Eggs, Legumes, Fish like Herrings, Sardines and Anchovies | Quinoa, Amarnath, Millets, Oats, Black rice, Pinto beans, Chickpeas, Black beans and Lentils | Pistachios, Almonds, Walnuts, Peanuts, Chia, Pumpkin, Flax |
What is allowed sparingly or in limits :
Dairy |
Grains |
Legumes |
Sugars |
Meat |
| Goats milk, Sheep milk, Butter from grass fed Cows( I assume) | Gluten-free whole grains | Low starch lentils, Beans | Natural Sugars like Maple Syrup, | Fresh raw Angus beef meat, whole, ground and chopped on parchment paper (how anyone can eat raw meat?) |
Foods to be avoided are:
Sugars |
Dairy |
Oils |
Food Additives |
Starchy Vegetables |
Gluten Grains |
| Processed Sugars | Yogurt, Cheese, cow milk, | Refined oils like soybean, sunflower | Flavourings, Colours, Preservatives | Potatoes, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato | Soy |
To summarise:
Pluses:
- Pegan diet is a great way to control diabetes as you are controlling sugars and starch, and eating fewer meats and processed foods.
- With more fibre and fewer calories, you will get healthier, and your weight and heart issues will be more effectively managed.
Minuses:
- Though Pegan Diet sounds great I am trying to think where I can get the ingredients. Most of them will be available in supermarkets. It will have to be organically grown and the vendor should be following the principles. If he follows the principles the food will be expensive and if he does not my diet will go for a toss.
- Also, in a country like India where vegetarianism is a norm restricting legumes, beans are depriving people their proteins. I am sure I will not be able to look at the raw meat let alone eat it.
- Avoiding some foods can cause deficiencies in nutrition and lead to health issues.
- Lastly most importantly if even hubby and I follow the Pegan diet we’ll be able to continue it? It seems like too much work. I have 2 more members in my house whose needs are at 2 ends of the food spectrum, cooking 3 kinds of meals and then working the whole day, every day is what I don’t see happening in my life. Not at least in the current home scenario.
Having said this we did enjoy our meal which has the following components and we will love to eat our Buddha Bowl occasionally.
Do join me when I take another look at Buddha Bowl and My take on Pegan Diet.
P.S. Here is the link for Cooking Quinoa.
Pegan Diet Buddha Bowl
Ingredients
- 300 grams mushrooms I used button mushrooms, sauteed
- 200 grams asparagus sautéed
- 6 eggs boiled
- 1-½ cups quinoa boiled and sautéed
- 1 red capsicum
- ½ zucchini sliced
- 1 Iceberg Lettuce
- ¼ cup coloured cabbage optional
- 2 onions chopped fine
- 8 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon red chilli powder
- Salt to Taste
- 15-20 cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup carrot sticks or julienes
- pumpkin seeds
Instructions
Work Plan for Pegan Meal
- Add the mushrooms in a deep pan of water so that all the grit is washed off. Set the water+ salt to boil the eggs. Rinse the quinoa and set aside. In a deep pan add water to boil this is for the quinoa.
- Let us start chopping the veggies. Chop 2 onions fine, set aside Mince garlic fine , set aside Drain and Cut the mushrooms into ½ or ¼ basically they have to be even sized. Chop the broccoli Peel the asparagus
- By now the water for the eggs must be boiling. Put the egg in a ladle and lower it in the boiling water. I needed to boil 6beggs. Let them boil for 8-10 minutes for a hardboiled eggs. When cooled peel and set aside.
- Add the quinoa and some salt to taste to the boiling water and mix well. Keep the flame on low and let the quinoa cook. The grains are cooked when you can see the Germ Check more about boiling quinoa in the link in the notes.
- Add salt, garlic, some say about 3 tablespoon onions to the mushrooms, chilli powder and set aside.
- Meanwhile, drain the eggs and in the same pan add the broccoli and a little water, salt and steam the broccoli.
- In a sauce pan add the garlic, 1 teaspoon olive oil and roast till the raw smell goes away. Add the asparagus and sauté till done. Set aside.
- In the same pan add the mushroom and sauté till mushrooms are done. Set aside
- Add 1 tablespoon oil add the rest of the garlic and onions and sauté. Add the cooled quinoa and sauté. Set aside.
To assemble:
- In a wide bowl add the lettuce leaves. Add 1 -2 tblsp of sautéed quinoa, 1 tblsp mushrooms, the veggies, eggs and garnish with pumpkin seeds.
- Serve immediately.
- After all this, the bowl was over in a scant 10 minutes!
Poonam Bachhav says
Love the way you have elaborated the Pegan diet di ! Buddha bowl is a smart way to control portion size and it is been on my to-do list for a long time now. Your post tempts me to try one soon.
ArchanaPotdar says
Aww! Thanks Poonam.
Sujata Roy says
Loved your Buddha bowl. So colourful and definitely healthy. Perfect diet for diabetic people. Great share.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sujata.
The Girl Next Door says
A Buddha bowl is a great way to incorporate different ingredients, food groups and flavours in a single meal. Love the one you have come up with here. Should do this some time, minus the eggs. 🙂
ArchanaPotdar says
Tag me I will love to see what you make.
Vidya Narayan says
Buddha Bowls are a great way to include a variety of things in limited portions. I loved the variety of vegetables used and especially the asparagus looks really fresh and tender. Wholesome and Healthy.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Vidya the asparagus was tender and did not have to peel it.
Preethi Prasad says
This Buddha bowl looks so healthy and nutritious. I have been planning to make one for such a long time. Yours looks so tempting.
ArchanaPotdar says
Do make and share Preethi. Will love to see your Buddha Bowl.
Swati says
A wholesome and fulfilling meal!! Love this platter full of nutrients and so colorful. Buddha bowls are a great way to incorporate the essential nutrients in the diet. Very nicely described food charts for the diet,
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Swati.
Kalyani says
Thats a very detailed, and interesting post Archana ! thanks for all the info ... these buddha bowls are so versatile and perfect to dig into. I especially loved the use of asparagus here, and looks like the entire Veg market from Goa is on this healthy plate ! well done !
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks 😀
Mayuri Patel says
Archana love how detailed your write up is for the vegan diet. Easy to follow and so informative. The Buddha bowl looks very inviting, nutritious and perfectly balanced for a pegan diet.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Mayuri.
Veena Krishnakumar says
Wow Arch!! You have given so much information about this diet. Loved the buddha bowl and I must say this is a wonderful take on the diet
ArchanaPotdar says
Veena you know me and my craze for details. ;D Nitpicking 😀 Thanks but.
Sasmita Sahoo Samanta says
Such an inviting bowl loaded with healthy and nutritious food !!! A perfectly balanced meal for a diabetic person 🙂
ArchanaPotdar says
Thank you, Sasmita.
Mina Joshi says
Your buddha bowl looks healthy and delicious.The pegan diet sounds a bit like the keto diet. Like you mention - this is the latest diet being talked about social media. Your dish is balanced which is good.
ArchanaPotdar says
I will follow any diet as long as it is well-balanced. Too much of Protein or anything else is not acceptable to me. Rather eat moderate amounts of all the food.
Priya Srinivasan says
Wow arch, love how you have given a detailed analysis of the pegan diet! I totally agree with the points you have mentioned under cons. That said the bowl looks absolutely inviting! Nutritious and hearty!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thank you, Priya.
Usha Rao says
I heard of pegan diet but never really looked into the details. This is quite an informative. post. Buddha bowl is perfect for meatless Wednesdays. Balanced and wholesome meal.
ArchanaPotdar says
Aw! Usha thanks a lot! I really appreciate your feedback and Wednesday is meatless! Here people go out for meats on Wednesday!
Sapana says
Love how you have elaborated the pegan diet . A very informative post o must say and Buddha bowl is definitely a wonderful way to control the portion in a healthy way .
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sapana.
Lata Lala says
How lovely to read an elaborate post on Pegan diet Archana.
Indeed the Buddha bowl is a smart way to control the portion size. I should follow this soon.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 thanks.
Pavani says
Thank you so much for the information on Pegan diet. This is new to me and learnt a lot today. That Buddha bowl looks nutritious and delicious.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Pavani.
Jagruti's Cooking Odyssey says
Wow..loving this healthy and tasty buddha bowl, thanks for sharing this recipe with us
ArchanaPotdar says
Welcome, Jagruti.
Bless my food by Payal says
Have heard a lot about Buddha bowl but never came across the details about it. Great to read your post. Added much to my knowledge and it is something I would love to try, minus, eggs.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 do try.