About This Video

In this cooking video, Vanessa helps make a brown rice vegetable bowl with chopped vegetables and feta cheese.

The recipe uses tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, red peppers, feta, and instant brown rice. The vegetables are chopped ahead of time, then participants help add them to a bowl, stir the salad together, heat the rice in the microwave, divide the rice onto plates, and add the vegetable mixture on top.

The video also explains that the ingredients can be flexible. Participants can use the vegetables they like best, skip ingredients they do not enjoy, or try other favorite vegetables to make the bowl their own.

This video gives participants a practical cooking activity focused on meal preparation, microwave use, vegetables, mixing, serving, flexible food choices, and growing independence in the kitchen.

Supplies Needed

• Instant brown rice or cooked brown rice

• Tomatoes

• Cucumbers

• Onions

• Red peppers

• Feta cheese

• Mixing bowl

• Spoon or mixing spoon

• Microwave, if using microwave rice

• Microwave glove, oven mitt, or hot pad

• Plates or bowls for serving

• Knife and cutting board, if chopping vegetables during the activity

Good For

• Adults with IDD who enjoy cooking, vegetables, rice bowls, simple meals, mixing ingredients, or helping prepare food.

• Caregivers looking for a short cooking activity that supports microwave safety, kitchen participation, and flexible food choices.

• Adult day programs, home routines, or group activities about cooking, vegetables, meal preparation, microwave use, serving, and daily living skills.

• Participants who benefit from visual modeling, repeated steps, hands-on participation, and support with building independence in the kitchen.

How to Use This Video

Use this video as a guided cooking activity for a home routine, day program, small group, or supported kitchen activity.

Caregivers can chop the vegetables ahead of time or support participants with safe chopping if appropriate. Participants can help add vegetables to the bowl, stir the salad, heat the rice, divide portions, and spoon the vegetable mixture over the rice.

This recipe is flexible. Caregivers can adjust the vegetables, cheese, rice type, portion size, or level of support based on food preferences, allergies, texture needs, and nutrition goals.

Because this activity may involve a microwave, hot rice, possible knife use, dairy, and possible food allergies, caregivers can provide support with setup, handwashing, food safety, microwave safety, hot mitt use, chopping, cleanup, portion size, and serving.

At the end, participants can taste the rice bowl, talk about which vegetables they liked, and practice making a balanced meal again with different combinations.