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| picture from wikipedia.... |
Mostly because it's a healthy alternative 'grain' and partly because I bought a *GIANT* bag of it from Costco.
Here in this house, we're cutting back on our meat consumption..and that means coming up with other ways of getting protein in our meals (of course we still enjoy a burger now and then, but for the most part we're sticking to eggs, fish, beans, and some dairy for our go-to protein sources).
My sis asked me why I traded out the couscous in a recipe for quinoa. And the short answer is because it does offer a better "nutrition profile" than couscous or other grains.
But, more specifically, here are some things I like about quinoa:
-not really a grain, but a seed.
-fluffy, creamy, slightly crunchy texture and a somewhat nutty flavor when cooked
-actually a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard.
-high in protein
-includes all 9 essential amino acids
-great source of the amino acid lysine, which is needed for tissue growth and repair.
-very good source of manganese and a good source of copper, two minerals that help antioxidant enzymes scavenge for free radicals in our bodies.
So there it is. The short and the long of it. And if the next few weeks are filled with recipes involving quinoa, now you know why. :)
now i'm so anxious to try it!!! i wish you cooked for my household.
ReplyDeletetwas an informative post, lisa lu! i love it because it is so much more satisfying than rice and cooks in a quarter of time. bam!
ReplyDeletePlus, it's so much more filling than couscous or rice, has the slightest little "crunch" to it, and you can make it taste anyway you like (kinda like tofu;) We love quinoa here, too! Keep the recipes comin'!
ReplyDeleteThat's why I love quinoa, too. I used to get it from our church's store houses, but now we're not that close to one, I go to a bulk foods shop or Costco. I tell people the gospel of quinoa, too--I'll always love it for its complete-protein profile. Who would have thought 20 years ago that there was a non-heme protein source like this? Well, the Andeans...but other than that, no one!
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