Loaded with dark leafy greens, lean protein, turmeric, and healthy avocado, these autoimmune healing bowls have everything that your body needs and nothing that it doesn't!
These autoimmune healing bowls were born in a quick spark of creativity during our first round of AIP, or Auto Immune Protocol.
We practiced the AIP diet for four weeks in hopes of improving my husband's sarcoidosis.
While we didn't see any reduction in symptoms of the sarcoidosis, we did come out with a few great recipes that we've continued to make again and again, and these autoimmune healing bowls are one of them.
What is AIP
AIP stands for Auto Immune Protocol. AIP is an elimination diet that is used for a minimum of 30 days to try and reduce inflammation in the body that is being caused by an autoimmune disorder.
In general, the AIP diet is very restrictive. It follows paleo guidelines but then cuts out a whole other host of items that are typically included on paleo - nightshade vegetables, nuts and seeds, eggs, and more.
The website Unbound Wellness was a huge resource to me during our brief AIP stint - I leaned on it heavily as a reference. Her full AIP guide here is the place I recommend you start!
I learned about a few ingredients that I would likely never have used if it weren't for AIP. The two that stand out the most were tigernut flour and carob powder. Both are acceptable on AIP, but not commonly used when eating paleo or allergen-free.
The other ingredient I found myself using a lot of was turmeric powder. I've never used a ton of turmeric, but it's a common anti-inflammatory, and we used it often. I even incorporated it into these autoimmune healing bowls!
Whether you're practicing AIP, or just focused on eating healthier, these bowls are a great option for an easy lunch or dinner.
They're satisfying, full of flavor, and loaded with healthy ingredients. What do the ingredients in these autoimmune healing bowls have as benefits to your health? Let's take a look!
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable that is naturally high in fiber and B-vitamins. It is said to contain antioxidants and phytonutrients that can protect against cancer. It also contains fiber, which enhances weight loss and digestion.
Avocado
Avocados are a good source of vitamins C, E, K, and B-6, as well as riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and potassium, just to name a few! Although most of the calories in an avocado come from fat, they're the good kind, so don't be scared to eat them!
(If you're looking for a great avocado recipe, check out my 3 Ingredient Fudgy Chocolate Pudding here!)
Arugula
Arugula is a peppery, distinctive-tasting green that originated in the Mediterranean region. It’s also known as rucola, salad rocket, and Italian cress.
This delicious green is a nutrient-dense food that is high in fiber and phytochemicals. It's high in several vital nutrients, and is said to be anti-inflammatory, as well as cleansing and detoxifying in the body.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a great healthy fat, as long as you make sure you're getting authentic, true olive oil. Here's how to know which olive oils are safe, and here's some additional info on olive oil as a healthy fat, as well as other healthy fat options.
Turmeric
Part of the ginger family, turmeric is a spice made from the root of a flowering plant. It's known to have anti-inflammatory properties and is used frequently on the AIP diet because of this.
Due to the high demand of turmeric, it is commonly cut or diluted - make sure when purchasing you are getting yours from a trustworthy source to reap its true benefits!
Looking for more AIP friendly recipes? Check out my 3-Ingredient Fudge Pudding recipe, my Teriyaki Sauce recipe, and this roundup of AIP-friendly Easter desserts!
Recipe
Autoimmune Healing Bowls
Loaded with dark leafy greens, lean protein, turmeric, and healthy avocado, these healing bowls have everything that your body needs and nothing that it doesn't!
Ingredients
- 1 cup mashed garlic cauliflower
- 2 cups arugula, packed
- 4 oz cooked chicken breast
- ¼ avocado
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Warm the mashed garlic cauliflower and the cooked chicken breast in whatever way is easiest for you. I typically have these pre-cooked, and just need to warm them up in the oven. My recommendation is to put them on a plate, cover with foil, and place in the oven at 300°.
- While the cauliflower and chicken are warming, heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add a small amount of water to the pan, then add the arugula and toss just until wilted. Turn off pan.
- Cut the avocado into slices lengthwise and remove skin.
- Remove plate from oven once cauliflower and chicken are warm.
- Fill a bowl with the mashed garlic cauliflower. Top with the chicken, wilted arugula, and avocado.
- Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, turmeric, and salt in a bowl and whisk.
- Pour the dressing over the bowl and serve.
Notes
Heads up! This recipe serves one person. If you're making for more than just yourself, be sure to adjust the measurements accordingly.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 655Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 488mgCarbohydrates: 75gNet Carbohydrates: 0gFiber: 20gSugar: 15gSugar Alcohols: 0gProtein: 57g
I may earn a small commission off purchases made through affiliate links in this post from Amazon and other sellers. This helps me continue to run the blog and keep providing you fresh content. Thank you for your support!
KD
I think you have a 2 type-os= “The other ingredient I found myself using a lot of was tumeric powder. I've never used a ton of turmeric, but it's a common inflammatory, and we used it often. I even incorporated it into these autoimmune healing bowls!” Should be (Turmeric) and (ANTI-inflammatory).
Also, yes, if it weren’t for adblockers, I’d unabashedly never visit most of the internet. I understand people need to get compensated for their energy output, but it’s simply unmanageable to read with ads flashing, popping, and intruding. Another way needs to be devised, or maybe it needs to be accepted that this job just isn’t going to support you monetarily.
Jessica
Thanks for sending those over! I've updated to include those edits.
The thing is, there is another way - paying for content. Many sites offer paywalls that allow you to access the site ad-free for a fee. Or, you can go old school and buy a cookbook. Rather than take a limited mindset and say this isn't going to support me, I encourage those who don't wish to scroll through the ads to take a different route, rather than digesting content that takes hours to make and is provided for free and then complain about the cost of obtaining it for free. I don't say that to be rude, just to level the truth of the situation. If its not for you, that's ok!
Lydia
I’d love to read and enjoy your and other’s blogs and websites giving advice and recipes but I’ve decided to stick to my cookbook since there won’t be ads popping up in the middle of every other sentence. It’s frustrating and I’m done with online recipes.
Jessica
Hi Lydia,
Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm glad you've been able to make this decision for yourself. By purchasing a cookbook, the person who wrote those recipes gets paid to provide them to you. As food bloggers, we only make money off the traffic to our websites - and one of the few ways we can monetize that is through ads. This can be difficult to understand if you don't work in the field, but often times it is how we can afford to run the food blog in the first place, which is actually quite costly.
Your complaint isn't an uncommon one, and we recognize that having to view ads while getting recipes for free isn't for everyone. The recent incident with Mindy Kahling spurred a large discussion over it, and I think those bloggers can give you additional insight if you are so inclined: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/voraciously/wp/2020/03/30/mindy-kaling-complained-about-stories-in-online-recipes-and-the-food-bloggers-let-her-have-it/
Enjoy your cookbooks!
Colleen
@Jessica, your recipes are fantastic! And I don’t mind ads at all when I’m getting something you’ve worked so hard to develop and publish on line - FREE to me! Thank you and I hope the ads bring you the revenue you deserve for all your work.
Jessica
Thank you Colleen - I appreciate that more than you know!