Smurfs-Inspired Blue Rice Bowl
|
|
Time to Read: 7 min
Welcome to The Pediatrician Kitchen at Ahimsa
I’m Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, pediatrician, mom of three, and founder of The Pediatrician Kitchen. I help families use real food, science, and joy to create routines that support lifelong health, without the stress.
In honor of the Smurfs musical movie launch, we’re serving up something colorful, nutrient-rich, and picnic-ready: a Smurfs-inspired Blue Rice Bowl, naturally tinted with butterfly pea flower.
It’s fun to make, fun to eat, and perfect to serve in a blue smart snacking bowl or pack into a stainless steel container for kids for an outdoor Smurftastic summer picnic.
Using thoughtful tools like the Ahimsa Smart Snacking Bowl and reusable stainless steel containers supports healthy habits and simplifies your kitchen routine.
About Ahimsa
Founded by a pediatrician and mom of three
Stainless steel is the only kid-friendly material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
We are guided by a Scientific Advisory Council comprised of environmental and medical experts, guiding us in creating the safest products, following the latest science and promoting policy to protect human health and our planet
Want to know more? Check out our story and our products.
Why Butterfly Pea Flower?
Butterfly pea flower is used across Southeast Asia to create naturally vibrant blue foods. It contains:
- Anthocyanins, plant compounds that support brain and eye health
- Natural color without synthetic dyes
- pH-sensitive properties: add lemon juice and it turns purple (hello, kitchen science!)
And when the bright blue rice is served in a stainless steel bowl like the Ahimsa Smart Snacking Bowl, the colors really shine. It’s a magical way to get kids excited about real food.
Recipe: Smurfs-Inspired Butterfly Pea Flower Rice Bowl
10 minutes
10 Minutes
1-2 Bowls
Meal
Ingredients:
- 1 cup jasmine or basmati white rice
- 2 cups water
- 4–5 dried butterfly pea flowers (or ½ tsp butterfly pea flower powder)
- Pinch of salt
Toppings (mix and match):
- Edamame or tofu
- Shredded carrots
- Sliced avocado
- Cucumber rounds
- Scrambled egg
- Sesame seeds
- Coconut aminos or soy sauce
Instructions:
- Boil 2 cups of water. Add butterfly pea flowers and steep 3–5 minutes until water is deep blue.
- Remove flowers, add rice and salt. Cook as usual.
- Fluff rice and cool slightly.
- Serve warm or cold in a blue Smart Snacking Bowl and top with colorful, kid-friendly ingredients.
- For a color-change science moment, squeeze lemon over a small scoop and watch it turn purple.
Mealtime Essentials
Build a Balanced Bite Bowl
Use this rice bowl as a mini lesson in building a balanced plate:
- Whole grains: Blue butterfly pea rice
- Protein: Edamame, egg, or tofu
- Veggies: Carrots, cucumber, avocado
- Flavor: Seeds, herbs, or a light drizzle of sauce
Let your child choose toppings and arrange their own bowl. It fosters autonomy, confidence, and curiosity. Using divided stainless steel plates or individual bowls can help kids explore food on their own terms, visually and independently.
Pediatric Teaching Moment
This dish is a visual and nutritional win:
- Blue rice = antioxidants for brain and cell health
- Toppings = fiber, protein, and healthy fats
- The experience = sensory learning + color exposure without processed food
Naturally blue foods like this are rare, so they feel fun and special—no need for artificial dyes or sugary snacks. And small changes (like serving meals in non-toxic kids’ dinnerware) can reinforce the message that every bite matters.
Pack It To-Go: A Smurftastic Summer Picnic
This rice bowl travels beautifully. Just:
- Scoop the blue rice into a stainless steel lunch container with lid
- Add toppings in sections or separate snack cups
- Snap on the lid, toss in a cold pack, and you’ve got a Smurfs-themed outdoor lunch
Perfect for backyard picnics, park days, or movie night under the stars.
Bonus: Bring lemon slices so kids can experiment with the color-changing rice at the picnic.
Packing your meal in a leak-resistant stainless steel container for kids means no soggy surprises and no plastic waste.
Culinary Medicine in Action
- Time: 20 minutes total
- Cost: Affordable pantry and freezer staples
- Skill: Simple stovetop recipe, perfect for beginner cooks
It’s colorful, interactive, and nutrient-dense, all core principles of food as medicine.
Final Thoughts
This Smurfs-Inspired Blue Rice Bowl is more than a pretty plate—it’s a moment of connection, learning, and nourishment. Serve it in a blue smart snacking bowl at home or pack it up for an outdoor adventure with your little Smurfs.
Every stainless steel bowl or container you use helps reinforce lifelong routines grounded in safety, sustainability, and joyful eating.
Because healthy habits start with joy, and joy starts with what we choose to put on the plate.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
More Mealtime Essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
