While eating a deliciously calorie-filled brunch with my friend Carly and discussing my weightloss goals, she mentioned this wonderful little seed. She described quinoa (pronounced kinwa) as being similar to couscous with an amazing nutritional resume that is probably right up my alley. I was so intrigued that I went straight to Whole Foods and bought a cup of this tiny substance from the bulk area. Whole Foods even blogged about it here.
All you have to do is soak, rinse, boil, and then fluff. So simple! I did just that and then mixed it with edamame, grapes, and a little bit of balsamic vinegar. I have to say, aside from oversalting the water when I boiled the quinoa, it was a delicious and filling dish! I shared it with Mere and Kristine and they too were impressed by this tiny super food.
I decided to look into quinoa to see what was so great about it nutritionally and to, of course, see how many points it costs me per serving. Well, it turns out that quinoa is not actually a grain but is a relative of leafy greens like spinach and chard.
Once considered the “gold of the Incas”, quinoa was revered for it’s ability to
increase stamina in warriors (hubba hubba!). This is due to the fact that it is a complete protein, meaning that it has all nine essential amino acids! This is pretty incredible for something so small. Take note vegans and vegetarians…this is a food for you!
Not only is it a great source of protein, WHFoods.com says “quinoa is a very good source of manganese as well as a good source of magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorus. This “grain” may be especially valuable for persons with migraine headaches, diabetes and atherosclerosis.”
I made 1 cup of quinoa and it provided probably 10 servings…if not more. That 1 cup has 626 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 12 grams of fiber. That means that each serving costs me approximately 1 point!!!
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I hit the jackpot with this one. I’m definitely going to stock up on it. If this is new to you, try it out and let me know what you think. If this is already a staple in your pantry, feel free to send me your recipes…I need all the help I can get in the kitchen.
Thanks Carly!!!
Yay! Glad you liked it. I will be interested in seeing what other recipes you try. I think I may try to make some kind of bread with it. XO
Comment by Carly — June 30, 2009 @ 11:38 am
There is another grain called Amaranth that is equally as nutricious and delicious. When I was a vegan these two grains were stables since they’re so high in protein.
My favorite ways to cook each…
Quinoa – roasted bell peppers stuffed with quinoa and all kinda of other veggies
Amaranth – mix with basil, roasted garlic, and sundried tomatoes!
Both of these grains are also great “sweet”. Try adding a little skim milk, agave nectar, and cinnamon to your leftover grains for a sweet treat
Comment by Lindsay — July 1, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
YOU ARE AWESOME Lindsay!!! I’m super excited about trying quinoa as a sweet dish! Yay for super foods that are delicious!
Comment by lovelyladyash — July 1, 2009 @ 12:08 pm
*nutritious, oops
Comment by Lindsay — July 1, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
[...] on the @fatroll mission. I’ve been eating pretty much fruits, chicken, potatos, rice and quinoa! The food here is great, but I’m making a conscious effort to watch everything I eat. [...]
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