First, happy Friday! I know I’m excited for the weekend. Work has been crazy as usual so it will be nice to get a rest. I have a Guster concert tonight that I’m really psyched about and tomorrow I am going to my hometown in NJ for my bridesmaid’s baby shower (it’s a boy!). On Sunday Bobby and I are going to a family dinner here in NYC and I’m also hoping to find a way to get in at least two yoga classes this weekend (haven’t been in over a week). But anyway, onto the topic for today…
Here are 10 reasons to start eating quinoa – NOW.
(source)
1. It’s filling. The protein + fiber in quinoa will satisfy your hunger and keep you full longer.
2. It’s packed with protein. One cup of cooked quinoa has just over 8 grams of protein (source). Divide your body weight (in pounds) by 2 and that is approximately how many grams of protein you should aim for. For women, between 50-75 grams is probably plenty.
3. It’s delicious. I will never say no to a big bowl of quinoa.
4. You’ll stay slim eating quinoa. What helps me lean out when I’ve been over-indulging? Filling grains like quinoa. I can’t get full on veggies alone and quinoa stops my cravings on the spot.
5. Quinoa is a great alternative to other typical grains. Bored of rice, oatmeal, and whole wheat bread? Cook up a batch of quinoa for a chewy, hearty, delicious side dish.
6. It’s versatile – have it for breakfast! Mix quinoa, Greek (or regular) yogurt, some peanut butter, and slice a banana on top. OR try using quinoa flakes to make a healthy breakfast cookie.
(^^my breakfast cookies^^)
(^^i also have made gluten-free cookies with quinoa flakes^^)
7. It’s versatile – have it for lunch! Mix quinoa, seaweed salad, a chopped hard-boiled egg, and some lettuce together for a protein-packed & Asian-inspired meal.
(^^or maybe some quinoa tabbouleh?^^)
8. It’s versatile – have it for dinner! Make burritos filled with chili meat (cook chopped onions + turkey + pack of chili spice + can of tomatoes), quinoa, lettuce, cheddar cheese, and avocados.
9. Quinoa is vitamin-rich. I like to get my vitamins from whole-food sources, not a pill. Quinoa has iron, manganese, riboflavin (B2), magnesium, lysene, and more. You can ditch the daily vitamins if you just eat real foods.
10. It’s a prebiotic – good for the digestive system (feeds good bacteria). Your belly will thank you. For those of us with IBS, it’s so important to eat foods that nourish the stomach and intestines. And even if you don’t have IBS, it’s still good to nourish yourself.
So… what are you waiting for? Go get some quinoa! I recently discovered the tri-color quinoa at Trader Joe’s and it is awesome.
I LOVE quinoa and like to cook a big batch at once. Then I keep grab-n-go containers in the fridge so I can quickly add it to my lunches for work. It’s so versatile! I didn’t know that it had probiotic properties–that’s awesome!
Hi Maggie. I like quinoa too. I like it fluffy so I add about a third more water to it.
I’ve been catching up reading your site, I think you would like the blog 180 degrees. A lot of Matt’s readers, including myself, are overcoming a lot of “rules” about food. His e-book Eat for Heat which is now 99 cents on Amazon is a good short course if you like his blog entries and are interested in his approach.
I SWEAR I don’t work for him.
Have you seen this?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/16/vegans-stomach-unpalatable-truth-quinoa
I love quinoa, too, but this important issue is coming to light more and more recently.
I think Kabocha is jealous :^)
Love this comment!
I had quinoa on my grocery list – my store sells Bob’s Redmill Brand – it was $10.99! I put it back. I need to have an excuse to go to Whole Foods, because I know their store brand isn’t that pricey.
Sounds like you had a great weekend planned Maggie!
I like how quinoa be healthy and delicious at the same time. It also gives enough fiber to help our body detoxify. Let’s just say that was proven and tested by me 🙂
I used to be constipated, that’s why when I discovers Quinoa I make it a daily routine, during breakfast or dinner.. 🙂