Super Food You Should be Eating But Probably Aren’t

 

Quinoa…say what? Pronounced keen-wa.  I am  a quinoa virgin, I would have to confess.  But, many experts are saying that it is a super food I should be eating!
I recently saw an article in Men’s Health Magazine that states:
“Quinoa is a true wonder food,” says Daniel Fairbanks, Ph.D., a professor of plant and animal science at Brigham Young University. “It has about twice the protein of regular cereal grains, fewer carbohydrates, and even a dose of healthy fats.” Plus, it’s considered a “complete” protein, which means that, like meat, eggs, and dairy, it packs all of the essential amino acids your body needs to build muscle.
Quinoa is packed full of antioxidants and phytonutrients. It is one of the only complete plant protein sources. It also has loads of magnesium, manganese, copper and fibre.
WOW….I should be eating that!  So I found a recipe from Allrecipes and made some alterations to what I had on hand.

Black Bean and Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 (8 ounce) cup black beans, drained
• 1/2 cup dried goji berries (another SUPER food)
• 1/3 cup sun flower seeds
• 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, and the water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Scrape the quinoa into a large bowl, and refrigerate until cold.
2. Stir the  beans, berries, sunflowers, coriander, cumin, and olive oil into the quinoa. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Yummy!  This salad was so good, I just could not stop eating it.  So let this be a warning about portion control! Quinoa has a subtle, nutty taste and will be used as a great substitute for rice in our house.
To read The User’s Guide to Quinoa from Men’s health, click here!
What super food should you be eating more of?  Please share yours in the comments below!

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