VEGGIES

Pickled Veggie Mandala

low carb vegan recipe

Pickled:

Asparagus
Artichoke hearts
Olives
Mushrooms
Yellow squash
Pickles
Kimchi (not shown above)

Makes 1 serving.

From your collection of pickled vegetables (see the discussion above in the Pantry Stocking section), arrange them sequentially in a circular pattern around a large dish, using the dish size to constrain portion sizes.

In Sanskrit, a ‘mandala’ is a circle that is used in ritual practices involving repetition and spiritual forms of focus. In the context of this dietary practice, regularly creating mandalas of your pickled vegetables aids with mindfulness, intentionality and routine, keeping you centered in a plant-based diet.

For the veggie-only version of this recipe, leave the center of the dish empty as a symbol of primordial emptiness, which itself is a symbol of hunger. The first recipe in the next section adds a protein core to your pickled veggie mandala, if an empty center is not your thing. As noted above in the Meal Plan for Weight Loss section, this makes for a great first meal of the day.

Some pickled vegetables are quite high in carbs, such as carrots, peas and beets. These are not suggested for those with weight loss goals, and are more suitable for weight maintenance. This is a lot of food! I often cannot finish a whole plate. When I’ve eaten all I can, I cover the plate and then snack away at it throughout the day.