Cooking with Quinoa

With so many after school activities, it can often seem a bit daunting to find healthy foods to put on the table.  Sometimes cooking from scratch can take up more time than our busy lives have time for.  Quinoa is a grain like seed, known for it's high fiber as well as high protein.  Unlike rice, wheat and other grains, quinoa is a complete protein (meat, eggs, and dairy all are complete proteins as well).  Quinoa cooks the same way you cook rice, and is now readily available.  You can find organic quinoa at Costco, or at any regular grocery store that you visit. 

One of the simplest ways to incorporate quinoa into you and your child's diet, is a nice stir fry.  Simply cook the quinoa according to the package directions, steam or saute any veggies you have available (this is a great way to use up any produce that is about to go bad).  Veggies that taste great in a stir fry include carrots, broccoli, corn, celery, onion, bok choy, cabbage, chard, and much, much, more.  If you're in a hurry, Costco and other grocery stores carry prepackaged stir fry vegetable mixes.  Simply saute, and put over a bed of quinoa.  You can also add chicken, beef or stir in egg if your family prefers meat, or leave it without meat for a great vegetarian option.

Quinoa does take a little adjusting to the pallet.  When cooking at first, it tastes much better if you add a bullion cube to the water, or cook the quinoa in chicken or vegetable broth. 

We hope you find this nutrition tip useful!  For my ideas on how to cook with quinoa, check out this link!