Super Bowls: Delicious and Nutritious Bowls

If you’re working toward a health goal, finding those dishes that keep you nourished without feeling deprived is like a scavenger hunt. We accepted the challenge, did the digging and pulled together this roundup of downright delicious and nutritious dishes. Each one is full of whole foods, lots of veggies and a variety of flavors and textures, all in one bowl.

Taste the Textures

Hummus Protein Bowl
JW's Kitchen
2144 E. Republic Rd. B-101, Springfield, MO
When you order this nutrient-dense bowl from JW's Kitchen, you're setting yourself up for a day full of energy. True to its name, it proves that you don't need meat with every meal to clock in your protein goals (which it seems like we're all trying to do lately). Aside from the hummus, the two other major sources of protein in this bowl are the boiled egg and the crispy chickpeas. This offering is a menu staple, but the add-ins change with the season. In the winter version, you'll find a combination of cumin-roasted delicata squash from Buttonwood Farm and spiced pumpkin seeds. As if there wasn't already enough flavor in this dish, it all gets a little extra kick with the addition of chili crisp.
Order It With: The Italian Orange Spritz, which is a mocktail featuring a non-alcoholic orange aperitif and non-alcoholic sparkling wine all garnished fashionably with an orange twist.

Enlighten Your Tastebuds

Buddha Bowl
The Press Coffee & Juice Bar
2710 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, MO
This dish is a colorful feast for the eyes and an easy way to eat your colors. A dream team of spring mix, kale, roasted carrots, cucumber and onions work together to deliver so many nutrients to your body in a flavorful way. There are diverse textures at play in this dish. You've got the graininess from the quinoa, the creaminess from the avocado, the crispiness from the roasted chickpeas and the crunch from the vegetables. You can choose between chicken or tofu at no extra cost, but if you are in the mood to upgrade, we say go with the bulgogi.
Order It With: Fresh juice— is the obvious beverage of choice when you visit The Press. Our favorite is a combination of apple, kale and lemon with a dash of ginger.

Choose-Your-Own Eat-Venture

Build-Your-Own Poke Bowl
Craft Sushi
Multiple Locations
Craft Sushi has always been one of our first choices when we're crunched for time but want to avoid fast food. The Craft Sushi crew assembles your build-your-own poke bowl in real time as you order. It's nice to experiment with different combinations to uncover your favorite, but if you need a formula to start, here's what we suggest. Start with a base of white or brown rice (or quinoa if you want to pack in more protein) and add in house-marinated tofu. Then, sneak a salad into your meal with mixed greens, carrots and asparagus. A sprinkle of green onion, dried seaweed and sesame seeds adds tangy, umami and nutty flavors. However, the key ingredients are a combination of ginger-sesame vinaigrette and a drizzle of sriracha mayo.
Order It With: A side of white miso soup to warm your soul on a chilly day.

A True Flavor Bomb

Tofu King Rice Bowl
Team Taco
1454 E. Cherry St., Springfield, MO
Naturally, the tacos at Team Taco tend to get the majority of the attention. But you can order any taco as a rice bowl, which is definitely the move if you want a bit more food to fill you up. If you're hoping to stay on the healthier side, go with the Tofu King rice bowl. A combination of house pickles and carrot slaw plus cilantro gives your taste buds a lot to take in, but it's the gochujang that is the true flavor bomb. The avocado, pico and your choice of rojo or verde sauce make for nice bonus toppings on every rice bowl, and it all comes on a bed of housemade seasoned rice plus black beans. You can opt to hold the sour cream if you want to keep it on the healthier side.
Order It With: Splurge a bit and pair it with the chips and oh-so-creamy queso.

Take Your Taste Buds Southwest

TB&B Power Bowl
Tea Bar & Bites
621 S. Pickwick Ave., Springfield, MO
This past fall, tea bar & Bites brought back its Sunday brunch, and we couldn't be happier about that fact. One brunch-exclusive item is the café's namesake power bowl. Like many good-for-you bowls, this one has a base of quinoa. Helpings of sweet potatoes, black beans, corn and tomato drizzled in a cilantro lime dressing give this dish a southwestern flair, while the fried egg makes it fit for brunch. It's a little earthy, bright and filling, which is honestly everything we want in a dish that bridges the gap between breakfast and lunch. When it comes to this colorful dish, the camera deserves to eat first. It will really pop against Tea Bar's signature vintage tablecloths.
Order It With: A DIY Mimosa Flight if you feel like unwinding, or the Provence rooibos blend tea if you're doing Dry January.

Get Your Grains

The Grain Bowl
The Ozark Mill Restaurant at Finley Farms
802 Finley Farms Ln, Ozark, MO
What better way to enjoy a grain bowl than in a historic grist mill? True to its name, this dish features a mix of grains and quinoa, and this basic base lets the other add-ins take center stage. The vegetables in this dish are the chef's choice and dependent on what's in season, but you can expect offerings like asparagus and potatoes in the chillier months. The vegetables are always a highlight, especially since they grow some of them right on the property. But underneath it all, you'll find the most flavorful Romesco sauce made with charred tomatoes and roasted red peppers and a delightful hint of smoked almond. The Grain Bowl is only available on the lunch menu, so time your visit accordingly.
Order it With: Treat yourself to a slice of green tomato cake.

Fit Check

A Fit Bowl
The Rock Food & Friends
4018 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, MO
The rock is definitely where you go if you're craving a healthy bowl, but you're a bit more particular about what's in it. The first decision you'll need to make with this build-your-own format is to use brown rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or lo mein as the base of your bowl. Next up, pick your protein: chicken, salmon, shrimp, ahi tuna, tofu or steak frites. Then, you'll select a sauce that you believe will best complement your protein of choice, including Sesame Teriyaki, sweet-and-spicy Thai, or poke sauce. Every bowl gets a nice little crunch and nutty flavor from sesame seeds and cashews. If the sun is shining, make another healthy choice and go for a crisp winter walk at Sequiota Park just down the street.
Order It With: Cure a fried food craving in a healthier way with a round of zucchini chips.

Mouthwatering Mediterranean

Build-Your-Own Rice Bowl
Greek Belly
320 E. Walnut St., Springfield, MO
While there's been a slew of other Mediterranean-inspired eateries popping up around town lately, Greek Belly will always stake the claim as one of the originals. Their rice bowls are a tried-and-true offering. When in Greece, you do as the Greeks do, so we like to choose the grilled lamb skewer as our main topping. And here's where we like to go a little off-menu. For our dip, we always request half a helping of tzatziki and half a helping of hummus (because the rule to pick one is simply too hard to follow). Every bowl comes with sliced tomatoes and pita to round it out.
Order It With: Some dolmades, which are hand-rolled grape leaves stuffed with herbed rice that you can dip in lemon tzatziki sauce.

Tuna, Spice and Everything Nice

Hawaiian Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl
Fresh Poke at 14 Mill Market
203 E. Mt. Vernon St., Nixa, MO
This dish proves that you don't have to sacrifice flavor for good health, all while satisfying a spicy food craving. It's the Thai chilis in this dish that really bring the heat, while the acid from the pineapple brings it down to a very manageable level. The edamame, grape tomatoes and seeds pack in even more nutrients, while the yum yum sauce, cilantro, seaweed salad and crispy onion give your taste buds so many good flavors to process simultaneously. The spicy ahi tuna is one protein that pairs particularly well with this combo, but you can opt for the sans-spice version if you fear it's going to be a bit too much. Oh, and the best part about all of the poke bowls here is that you can choose a base of salad or sushi rice, depending on what your body needs.
Order It With: Head over to The Gochu's kiosk and order the Purple Yuzu Lemon drink for a nice cooldown.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

Traditional Bibimbap
Koriya
4121 S. Fremont Ave. #128, Springfield, MO
It may take a few trips to Koriya before you discover your favorite combo for the Traditional Bibimbap Bowl, but here's a good starting point. The mixed rice is our favorite, but if you're trying to cut down on white rice, you can ask for half brown and half black rice. The tofu topping is always a great option since it really soaks in the flavor of your sauce of choice, which is definitely the lemon soy if you know what's good. The bowl comes with a blend of so many delicious garden veggies like kale, carrots, radishes and zucchini. Unlike the hot stone bowls, you can order this one to go, which means it's an excellent lunch-hour pick-me-up.
Order It With: A refreshing glass of plum tea.