Diet – Quinoa, The “Supergrain”

Quinoa. Pronounced KEEN-wah. Maybe you’ve heard of it, but more than likely you haven’t. Yet, this grain, unlike so many other nutritionally inferior grains we eat, has twice the protein of other cereal grains, fewer carbohydrates, and a bit of healthy fats as well. Plus, it’s considered a “complete” protein, which means like meat, eggs and dairy, it packs all the essential amino acids your body needs for muscle growth.

For those that prefer a vegetarian diet, one of the pitfalls is how difficult it is to get complete proteins into your diet. Quinoa is a wonderful source of protein for your diet. To give you an comparison against other foods, Quinoa provides almost twice the fiber of pasta and brown rice. It contains as much high quality protein as milk. It offers high amounts of the amino acid lysine (needed for muscle growth), and it delivers a supply of magnesium, which is necessary for a healthy heart.

Best of all, Quinoa has an delicious, nutty flavor, and it cooks up quicker than rice. It works great for pilafs, risottos, salads, and soups. Preparation is simple. Fill a pot with 2 cups of water, and bring it to a boil. Add 1 cup of Quinoa, turn the heat to low, and let cook for 20 minutes. Allow to cool a bit, and you’re done! And, you can toss it into a refrigerator container, and have it ready-to-eat later by just microwaving it for 30-60 seconds.

Where do you find Quinoa? In the Phoenix area, try the health-food section of Fry’s Marketplace (in the bulk bins), or in the bulk bin areas of Sprouts.