Roasted Eggplant + Quinoa Bowl

This was one of those weird in-between days. Not a full crash, not great either. I could get out of bed, but my joints felt heavy and my head had that dull pressure like a migraine might be loading in the background. Standing too long made my heart race, but sitting still made everything stiff.

Disorder	Helpful / Neutral / Risk	Rationale
POTS	Neutral-to-helpful	Quinoa gives slow carbs and some protein. Add salt or feta if you need more volume support.
Lupus	Supportive	Eggplant, tomatoes, olive oil, and herbs lean anti-inflammatory and didn’t aggravate joint pain for me.
Vestibular migraine	Depends	Eggplant can be a trigger for some. Worked for me on a low-risk day; skip if nightshades bother you.

What this is

Soft roasted eggplant, burst tomatoes, fluffy quinoa, herbs, olive oil. Nothing crunchy, nothing sharp. It’s one of those meals that doesn’t demand anything from you while you’re eating it.

Low drama food.

Ingredients (1 bowl)

Item	Amount	Notes
Eggplant	1 small	Roasted until very soft
Cherry tomatoes	1 cup	Roasted or raw
Cooked quinoa	¾ cup	Warm
Olive oil	1–2 tbsp	Don’t skimp
Parsley or cilantro	1–2 tbsp	Fresh helps
Lemon juice	To taste	Optional
Salt	Generous	Especially for POTS

How I made it

1. Roast eggplant slices with olive oil and salt at 425°F until collapsed and silky.

2. Toss warm quinoa with olive oil, salt, and herbs.

3. Add tomatoes and eggplant. Finish with lemon if tolerated.

4. Eat sitting down. Slowly. Fork optional, spoon acceptable.

Why this worked today

• Warm without being heavy

• No sharp textures for a sensitive head

• Carbs + fat without a crash

• Didn’t make my joints feel worse an hour later