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Training & Nutrition

Flex Bowls: The 2016 Fitness Fad We’ve Been Enjoying for Years

This new fad has popped up... but haven't we been FlexBowling since forever?!

If you’re into your fitness media, follow a couple of healthy-foodie Instagram accounts, or perhaps just allow a couple of popular women’s titles to grace your Twitter feed, then the term ‘Flex Bowl’ might have been dancing around your online universe for a little while. At TWC, we only discovered Flex Bowls today, but we’re pretty sure we’ve been enjoying them for years.

We’ll let Women’s Health give you the dictionary definition:

“Essentially, a flex bowl can contain anything you wish, hence the name. Their primary role is to ensure that you use up any dangling macros [macronutrients – fats, proteins, carbohydrates].”

In other words, Flex Bowls are an opportunity to munch down any proteins, fats or carbohydrates that you were meant to eat during the day to meet your dietary requirements (which of course you carefully calculate each day based on activity), in one neat little bowl ideally consumed before bed.

Many people using ‘Flex Bowls’ – and there are a lot of them, there’s over 51,000 posts on Instagram – are looking to meet their protein and carb needs after a workout. Though some of the examples we’ve seen are beautifully healthy in their combinations of vegetables, yogurt and mini meat morsels, others are a bit more brutal in their calorie load – peanut butter and Reese’s cups feature heavily. Here are a  few examples…

 

Another new dinner creation! I was craving prawns all day so I picked some up on my way home from work, cooked them in garlic with a stir fry veggie mix and chopped tomato, then served them over my beloved spinach and #zoodles ???? This dinner was half the calories of my previous snack ???????? #priorities Macros: 32C/3F/42P

A photo posted by Steph (@steph182x) on

????Desayuno : ▫ Oatmeal de avena White choco gofre / leche soja / claras huevo ▫ platano / peanutbutter ▫ té verde maracuya #IIFYM #iifym #fitnessfood #health #healthy #nutrition #fitness #fitnnesmotivation #fitnesslifestyle #fitnessjourney #fitness #bjj #bjjlifestyle #brazilianjiujitsu #oatmeal #peanutbutter #flexbowl #fitfam #trainning #eathealthy #eatclean #healthyfood #flexibledieting #eattogrow #postworkout #grappling

A photo posted by @kokunutrition on

This weekend has been draining to say the least! Didn’t get done with all the school work that I wanted too, but sometimes that’s the way the cookie crumbles… Today consisted of- ✔️Fasted cardio???????? ✔️Fun day with friends???????? ✔️Grocery shop???????????????? ✔️Meal prep for the week???? Now time to procrastinate more with YouTube videos. Macro cap consisted of: Two servings of @halotopcreamery ???? @pescience blondie whey beltsander brownie Fresh strawberries???? Pizzelle cookies???? Topped with cashew milk???? #iifym #iifymgirls #macros #flexibledieting #balancedintake #carbsafterdark #healthyfoodporn #foodporn #foodie #foodlover #foodpics #girlswithmuscle #girlswholift #healthyfood #healthylifestyle #halotop #pescience #flexfood #flexbowl #fitspo #foodstagram #foodie #foodporn #foodphotography #foodpics #healthyliving #balancednotclean #ifitfitsyourmacros #healthnut #highprotein

A photo posted by Jerica???? 23????Austin, TX (@jericax_fit) on

With or without the shiny new name, we’re always happy to help ourselves to a bowl of all the yummy things active people need to keep themselves in tip top condition.

So, without further ado, we’ve rounded up just a few of our favorite such concoctions…

The Fro’ Yo’

A favourite amongst Team TWC of an evening, we can’t even believe this one is healthy, it tastes so good! And it’s also incredibly easy.

Simply mix two large handfuls of frozen berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries…) with two large desert spoonfuls of natural yogurt, using a blender. A nutribullet or similar works well, but a hand blender is perfectly adequate.

Sprinkle on some seeds and nuts if you fancy an extra dose of protein and good fats, and a squirt of honey for taste. (Full recipe here on our Ed’s little blog!)

Protein Porridge Munch

This one is great if you want to tick off protein and carbohydrates. We’re pretty taken by the ready made pouches from MyProtein, but you can just mix some Whey protein powder in with your oats and milk.

For an added kick, you can stir in a spoon of peanut butter, or cool it down with a dollop of Greek yogurt.

The Yogurt Yum

Natural or Greek Yogurt is great for you – it contains friendly bacteria which keep your gut healthy. Opting for the plain stuff means you don’t get the unnecessary sugar that is often added to flavoured versions.

For some sweet carbs, stir in chopped fruit – strawberries, apple slices, blueberries – and walnuts and almonds to give you some extra healthy Omega 3’s which can help reduce inflammation as well as keeping your heart healthy. Grate a little dark chocolate over the top – because ‘serotonin’, and it’s tasty. If you’re after an added crunch, a little granola on top is nice, but remember this is often high in sugar.

We wish you many moons of happy munching – be your snacks Flex Bowls, or just good old fashioned hunger killers. If we’ve got you feeling peckish, check out these creations… 

8 Great Nutribullet Smoothie Recipes 

Powerballs: Where Have You Been All Our Lives? 

Healthy Treats: Nut Butter Cup Recipe

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