I’ve lived in Philadelphia for more than half my life. And I came here for a man. Not just any man, but Rocky Balboa. Yes, I came here because I became smitten with the city of Philadelphia while watching the Sylvester Stallone film “Rocky” in a remote village when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer. In my mind, a remake today would have Rocky living a plant-strong life, winning fights, but most of all, starting his day with “Rip’s Big Bowl (RBB).”
The RBB could make it into any movie, and think about how much better a fighter Rocky would have been if he was plant-strong. Not only would he be having a bowl for breakfast, talking to his turtles, “Cuff and Link,” but it would have become a training food. He’d pop some into a container, and save it for a replenishment snack after his 8.3 mile run around the River. The RBB is the easiest thing to make, it’s very cost effective, tastes great, and what really happens is that people say, “Hey, what are you eating?” And the next thing you know, your breakfast is g-o-n-e because they have eaten your generous sample.
It’s time to move away from the sugary cereals, and devote some time to creating the Big Bowl as your breakfast mainstay. At first, it might seem like a lot of work, but with practice, you realize that you can cut corners and make this easy-peasy. I create my cereal in bulk. I gather my food items, then assemble them in a huge container, mix it all up, date the top of the container (date that I made it), and each morning, grab a cup, pour it into a bowl, and add some unsweetened vanilla almond milk (my personal fav). I add some fresh fruit, too. I recently traveled to the remote interior of Honduras, and packed a bag of the Big Bowl in my luggage, and ate like a queen every day. Forgot to pack almond milk, so I used hot water, and it was just as good…especially with freshly picked mangoes on top.
So, here’s what I do, and I hope you follow suit, because even without time in the morning, your breakfast will always be waiting for you.
You’ll Need:
One Cup each of Old-fashioned Oats, Grape Nuts (I use Ezekiel brand instead), bite-sized shredded wheat, and Uncle Sam Cereal. Put into a mixing bowl, and mix well with your hands.
Add, if you wish, one-half cup of raisins, and a few pieces of walnuts.
Mix well and place into a storage container (about two quart size). Date the container, just so that you remember when you made it, etc. Not sure why I do that, but I do.
When you are ready to indulge in the RBB, grab a cup or more, put it into a bowl, sprinkle one tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal on top of your cereal, fresh fruit, and non-dairy milk of your choice. You are good to go.
Sometimes, when I meet friends for breakfast, I take RBB with me in a small container, ask the food server for hot water, and when my friends are discussing what they’ll have for breakfast, I am well situated, because I have the Big Bowl. It is delicious, tastes great, and it doesn’t add any commotion to my day, because it sets me in the right direction on my plant-strong path.
The recipe can be found on page 150-151 in The Engine 2 Diet. And once you find the way you like the cereal, you are good to go. But, keep in mind, that this simple cereal will excite your creativity.
Someday, you’ll be able to sit at your breakfast table reading from an actual box of Rip’s Big Bowl, but in the meantime, get going with your own Big Bowl, creating the best breakfast there is.
Oh, and in the magical remake of “Rocky” (the one in my head), when Rocky is screaming “Yo, Adrian,” at the end of the film? His next line is, “Let’s grab a Big Bowl.” It could be an example of epic plant-strong living. Yo…
