Daily dose of divine: try our prana bowl recipe

One of our go-to healthy & satisfying meals for any time of day

“Prana” refers to the vital life force or energy within foods (origin: Sanskrit), which are typically fresh, unprocessed, and locally grown.
We call this meal our “prana bowl” because it does the heavy lifting in terms of nutrients, keeps you feeling light & energized, and it’s full of flavor, texture, and fun!

The Building Blocks of Vitality

Nutritionally, this recipe is loaded with the good stuff. Prebiotic fiber to support the good bacteria in your gut, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats to provide long-lasting energy, and a decent ratio of plant protein to replenish your muscles and satisfy your hunger. All of that checks the boxes for “healthy” eating, but did you know that equally important to the nutritional and energetic value of foods is how they look?! Food that is visually appealing and beautifully composed can dramatically influence how your body prepares to digest and metabolize those nutrients!

Eating—A Scientific and Spiritual Act

• Salivation before Salvation

  Imagine you’re walking into your home around dinner time and you catch a delicious aroma emanating from the kitchen. You weren’t even hungry, but in one quick moment, all your attention is diverted to finding out the source of that savory smell. You see a plate of food that immediately makes your mouth water. Your brain recognizes that stack of goodness, and says, “Whoa, that is the promise of energy, of life, of survival!”, so it starts sending digestive enzymes to your mouth in preparation to break down those delicious morsels into powerful nutrients!

• Heed the Hormones

  Simply the sight and smell of food can increase blood insulin levels, which is the body’s way of preparing for a rise in glucose after eating. It’s our built-in system responsible for maintaining stable blood sugar. That blissed-out state you experience after eating a hearty meal could quickly transform from heaven to hell without this self-regulating system.

• Pause and Ponder
  The simple (yet wildly complex) act of eating is a tremendous feat of alchemy! You’re literally transforming pieces of food from the earth into the exquisite form of a human being. The chemistry magic isn’t limited to the physical body, however. There’s a spiritual opportunity at every junction of hunger and satisfaction. Pausing to recognize this transaction as something more than a biological compulsion, that there is something bigger than ourselves, when we take in these nutrients, that is what sets our species apart and transforms this simple act into a spiritual possibility.

Basic Recipe (serves two)
Ingredients:

2 fresh figs, halved or quartered
1 moderately ripe banana, peeled and sliced
1 honeycrisp apple, chopped
1/4 cup blueberries (if using frozen, thaw and rinse before adding)
2/3 cup raw almonds (soaked overnight, skin removed)
1/4 cup sprouted mung beans
2 tbsps chia seeds
1-2 tbsp hulled hemp seeds
1 tsp ground cardamom
pinch of salt

Instructions:

Gently mix the fruit with the salt and cardamom in a medium-sized bowl. Add the almonds and mung beans and toss. Scatter hemp, chia, and spices on top in lines, clumps, or any design you like.

Be Flexible Yet Intentional

Swap out ingredients to your preferences or based on what’s available, affordable, or in season. We try to pair ingredients that either complement or contrast in flavor, texture, or quality. Don’t overthink it, but do give it some thought :)

For Example:
Sweet + Tart ~ Peaches and Raspberries
Savory + Sweet ~ Figs and Cashews
Sweet + Rich ~ Pears and Walnuts