he Healthy Lazy Chef here and I'm at it again! And in this series I'll be embarking on some Trader Joe’s food reviews. Each blog, I’ll not only review one item, but will give you my tips on how to make it even better. I've given myself the challenge of making every meal less than 10 minutes to prepare and I'm also making sure that most items can be stored or cooked ahead of time - taking your healthy, yet lazy cooking routine to a whole new level!

Additionally, I’ll include some of my shopping insights (which is mostly my inner monologue) on what I'm looking for when I'm shopping for certain items and give you ideas on how to elevate the dish to not only make it taste better, but also more well-rounded for overall nutrition!

‍

Let's start things off with Trader Joe’s Riced Cauliflower Bowl.

Cauliflower rice has been all the rage and it looks like it's here to stay. There are certainly some mixed feelings on cauliflower rice. Done right, it can be a nice fluffy rice substitute making second and third helpings guilt-free. Done wrong, and it can be mushy, flavor-less trying-too-hard-to-be rice leaving you unsatisfied. Let's see how our Trader Joe's brand does!

Here's the Skinny on the Riced Cauliflower Bowl. This package includes:

• A great Vegan/vegetarian option
• Nutrient-dense veggies: cauliflower, kale, red onion
• Fiber-full starches: sweet potato, chickpeas
• Simple seasoning: tahini sauce

The Verdict

It's a great combination of nutrient-dense foods, which is something I always look for because it gives you the most bang for your "vitamins and minerals" buck, but on the flip side there is a lot of the same mushy texture and flavor. Tahini can be pretty overpowering and the single flavor profile is strong throughout. On it's own this would be a good snack item, but since it’s relatively low in protein and carbs, it wouldn’t be substantial enough for a meal.
‍

3 out of 5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Let's Level-up ‍

The dish needs different textures, some sweetness and umami to balance out the tahini. It also needs more substance to be a whole meal. Here's what I did!

‍

What I Added

• ¼ cup frozen peas or corn-- roughly a flat cupped palm
• ½ cup ground beef (pre-cooked) - roughly a heaping cupped palm
• Rice (pre-cooked) - you choose the amount

The peas and corn will give it a nice pop of color and contrast in texture so it's not just mush. The ground beef will add some much needed protein to the dish and the rice will add carbohydrates to balance it all out giving you a solid all-star meal.

How I Cooked it (in less than 10 minutes)

1. Microwave contents of the bowl for 1-min., then stir. 
2. Option 1: add peas or corn and beef directly into the bowl, mix, and continue microwaving for another 2-3 min.
3. Option 2: pour contents of bowl plus peas and beef into a skillet on medium high. Gently stir for 2-3 more minutes. (If you have more time to dirty more dishes, go this route because it helps evaporate some excess liquid!)
4. While cauliflower mixture is heating up, place some rice into a bowl - if it’s cold, heat it up for a minute. 
5. Once it’s steaming hot, pour bowl/skillet contents on top of rice and enjoy!
   

Customize It!

• Vegan/vegetarian: replace the beef with high quality tofu to pack in more protein.
• Low Carb: no rice and add in another veggie of your choice
• Different Protein Options: add in a leaner meat, like ground chicken or turkey.
  
  

Tried this out? Tag @gymparty_ on Instagram and let us know what you think!

Want a free new workout sent to your email every day? That's right, we send free daily workouts via email EVERY SINGLE DAY!! Sign up here 🥳 (it's free)!

‍