My son loves Superheros! These magical characters and their super powers are brought up daily in our family especially when helping our kids visualize and imaginate. When I sat down to share information about quinoa I immediately thought "Quinoa is a super-grain!" Why do you ask? What makes it so special and worth giving it a fair shot? Let me enlighten you...

Quinoa is a plant-based COMPLETE PROTEIN.

Complete proteins or “high-quality proteins” are those that provide all nine essential amino acids. These amino acids are not able to be produced naturally in our body and must be consumed. We need to consume ALL of these to make the proteins our bodies need.

Quinoa also has a high protein to carbohydrate ratio when compared to other grain products. It is packed with essential minerals including iron, magnesium, copper, selenium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and zinc. It contains heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant phytonutrients (called flavonoids), good source of B-vitamins, vitamin E, and a generous portion of soluble and insoluble fiber.

Quinoa is considered a whole grain! Whole grains include the ENTIRE intact grain seed. Consuming 2 to 3 servings of whole grain foods per day can reduce the risk of:

Cardiovascular disease
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Colon cancer
Obesity

It is recommended to consume 48 grams of whole grains per day. Studies have shown that as whole grain intake increases, the risk for all five of these conditions decreases.

Whole grains like quinoa provide essential vitamins, minerals and fiber, which help to regulate your digestive system; while also keeping you full and more satisfied for longer. White pastas, white rice and white breads essentially provide us with simple carbohydrates that are quickly digested and provide very little nutritional value.

Quinoa is also naturally gluten-free. Most gluten-free products are made up of corn, rice or potato flour. These products often lack essential nutrients. Incorporating quinoa can help to provide the missing nutrients especially in a gluten free diet. Quinoa also provides a higher amount of antioxidants than other common grains used in a gluten-free diet.

It is easy to incorporate quinoa into your diet by substituting it for rice in any recipe. Its small grains cook in as little as 15 minutes. Quinoa has a subtle nutty taste. It can be used in hot side dishes, cold salads, soups, burgers, in baking or as a breakfast grain. Here is a few of my favorite QUINOA recipes to get you started - Enjoy!