Black Bean Power Bowl with Roasted Beets and Quinoa

Here’s a problem for you, my dear reader.

The definition of Power is the rate at which Work is done–to wit,

P = W/t (thank you, physics degree!)

Work is measured by the displacement of an object by a Force (no, not THAT Force. People.) For example, you might pull the leash of an excitable pup, push a coconut along a branch, or carry a flailing almost-toddler from his play mat (i.e. toy garden of awesomeness) to his high chair (a.k.a. torture device invented solely for the purpose of inciting misery and anger in small babies).

My question is: Why in blazes am I so tired after doing something that involves no Power at all?

See, when you’re carrying an object (like a plump Baby J) from point A to point B, you’re not technically doing any Work on the object! The force you exert is perpendicular to the direction of motion (here, gliding across the floor like a ballerina, as I often do), so no Work is done on the object. No Work, no Power (remember, P = W/t). In the last example above, no Work is being done on Baby J. No matter how tired you are after hauling that chunker around.

The physics of parenthood means foisting tasks onto other people is a piece of cake (” … But Peter, physics says that carrying Baby J through the grocery store will feel like no work at all … “)

Why did I go off on this tangent? Because of this month’s Recipe Redux theme.

Packed with protein, fiber and color, plant power bowls are trendy and delicious. Show us the healthy recipe that’s in your bowl.

POWER bowls. Yes, I went there.

A Power Bowl is a bowl packed with vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, a bit of crunch, and a sauce or dressing to tie it all together. It’s a nutritious meal-in-a-bowl that makes eating healthy as easy as tossing together a few delicious ingredients. Nothing fancy.

Sounds a bit like BEGG, actually. (Which you should totally check out, by the way.)

This Power Bowl is filled with brown rice, red quinoa, roasted beets, black beans, spaghetti squash, and seaweed (yes, seaweed). You can skip the seaweed, but you’ll miss out on the unique umami flavor it provides. My Bowl is topped with crumbled Parmesan cheese crisps and Sriracha dressing. Try these toppings, or add your own favorites. There are no strict rules with Power Bowls!

And if you eat enough of these Power Bowls, who knows? Maybe carrying around that heavy baby won’t feel so tiring after all.

Power up your meal with a delicious & nutritious black bean #powerbowl #thereciperedux Click To Tweet

P.S. You bet I Update Your Plate-d this meal first:

P.P.S. Baby J enjoyed a deconstructed version of this Power Bowl #andhelovedit

P.P.P.S. Check out more Power Bowl recipes below!