'Sometimes healthy food ain't pretty': Matty Matheson's 'dog bowl' approach to eating right is nutritionist-approved

Chef, restaurateur and actor Matty Matheson is on a health kick — and says his “dog bowls” are keeping him on track.

In 2024, The Bear actor spoke out about his year-long weight loss journey, telling Men’s Health that he’a improved his diet by “eating vegetables and meat and just enough carbohydrates.” He shared that he’s skipping sugary, processed and fast foods — once a regular staple of his diet — in favor of real, whole foods.

One way the food influencer is making it work is by keeping his meals simple: enter the “dog bowl.” In a new Instagram post shared last week, Matheson shows off a heaping pile of rice and ground beef in a bowl. “Put down the cheese pizzas every night and make the dog bowl,” he wrote. “Sometimes healthy food ain’t pretty — keep it simple and take care of yourself. Beef egg rice that’s all you need. I’m not a doctor but this will for sure keep you healthy and wealthy and wise.”

Matheson may call them “dog bowls,” but these one-bowl meals are nothing new. The question is: Should you start making them? Here’s what you need to know.

What one-bowl meals look like around the world

Many cultures have one-bowl meals: In Korea, there’s bibimbap, a dish of rice topped with sautéed vegetables, a fried egg, sliced meat and gochujang sauce. In Japan, there’s donburi, which also features a rice base topped with ingredients like tempura, grilled eel or beef. Poke bowls, which hail from Hawaii, combine raw fish, rice and fresh vegetables. And in India, there’s biryani, a one-pot meal of spiced rice layered with marinated meat or vegetables and aromatic herbs.

Meanwhile, in America, fast food restaurants like Chipotle have long been serving up burrito bowls, loaded with rice, beans, meat, vegetables, cheese and salsa. And Mediterranean-inspired CAVA boasts grain bowls with falafel, veggies and meat.

Why you should try a bowl

Dietitians approve of the bowl concept. These bowls, as Matheson pointed out, are made with mostly whole, unprocessed foods that can be very nutritious — as well as simple and easy to prepare.

“Eating healthy doesn’t have to look like an elaborate meal,” Sarah Alsing, a dietitian and meal prep creator for Delightfully Fueled, tells Yahoo Life. “These bowls usually have all the macronutrients with rice as the carb, beef or chicken as the protein and fat from the beef or oil used to cook the protein. It’s a simple meal, yet you’re getting what your body needs.”

But dietitian Catherine Gervacio points out that Matheson’s beef and rice bowl “lacks vegetables or any kind of high-fiber fiber food for digestive health and satiety.” She adds that the beef he used may be high in saturated fat.

Alsing agrees that while Matheson’s meal is a good start, it could be improved upon by adding “color and micronutrients with vegetables.” That could mean cooking the ground beef with “diced onion and mushrooms, then topping the bowls with avocado and salsa,” she suggests.

If you’re making bowls at home, it’s important to consider the proportions, Gervacio says. She recommends filling half of the bowl with non-starchy vegetables like leafy greens or broccoli, as well as adding moderate portions of whole grains like brown rice, quinoa or farro — which you can also swap for a low-carb alternative, such as cauliflower rice, if that better suits your taste and diet.

“For proteins, lean cuts of red meat, chicken, fish, tofu, beans or eggs are the healthiest choice,” Gervacio says.

What are some bowl ideas you can make at home?

If you want to be like Matheson and get in on that dog bowl life, here are some quick meal ideas you can make, and even prep in advance for the week:

Chipotle-your-way: Start with a cup of your preferred rice. Add black beans, shrimp, grilled chicken or tofu, corn, diced tomatoes and avocado. Top with a dollop of salsa and/or some sour cream or Greek yogurt.

CAVA at home: Use quinoa or couscous as a base, then layer on roasted vegetables, chickpeas, olives, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and feta cheese. Add a drizzle of tzatziki or tahini dressing. Upgrade your protein by throwing in grilled chicken, salmon or tofu.

Sushi bowl: Prep sushi rice with rice vinegar and a little sugar. Add sushi-grade salmon or tuna with strips of nori and edamame. Top with spicy mayo and soy sauce.

Stir-fry bowl: Start with your preferred rice, then top with stir-fried vegetables like broccoli, carrots and snap peas, and a portion of grilled fish or tofu. Drizzle a sesame-ginger sauce over everything.

Breakfast bowl: Instead of rice or grains, start with a starchy vegetable base, like sweet potato hash. Add scrambled eggs, leafy greens like spinach and a sprinkle of shredded cheese. Top with avocado and any additional sauces you like, such as hot sauce or ketchup.

Plant-based bowl: Pick your preferred grain, like quinoa or farro, and add cooked kale, roasted sweet potatoes and oven-baked chickpeas. Top with a miso dressing. Add tofu or seitan for extra protein.

Cheeseburger bowl: Add a base of cubed whole-grain burger bun. Sauté ground beef (or a vegetarian alternative, like Beyond Meat) with chopped onions and add to the bowl. Toss with shredded cheese, tomato, lettuce and pickles.