Quinoa has some great health benefits. It is a good source of fiber and protein, with each 1 cup cooked serving providing 5 grams of fiber and a huge 8 grams of protein. More importantly, the protein in quinoa is a complete protein, which means it provides all the essential amino acids so your body can build protein. This is a rare quality to find in a grain. Additionally, quinoa has lots of B vitamins as well as minerals like iron, zinc and magnesium. And it has the added benefit of being gluten-free, so it can be a great alternative for those with celiac disease or gluten allergies.

Quinoa is fairly easy to prepare–it cooks up like rice. Just boil it in water for 10-15 minutes and it’s done.

One of my favorite recipes at The Resort is Chef Cameron’s recipe for quinoa lettuce wraps. It’s a lovely, flavorful dish that really packs a good nutritional punch. With the popularity of quinoa increasing, it’s not too difficult to find various recipes in cookbooks or on the internet. I recently found some interesting recipes I thought were worth sharing. Just click the link on the recipes below:

• This recipe for Lemony Quinoa is very simple and can be used as a side dish for many different entrees
• I never thought of using quinoa for breakfast, but I really like this recipe for Quinoa Porridge–simple but flavorful
• I think using quinoa in a dessert is a fantastic idea. I love this recipe for Quinoa Pudding, which is an altered version of rice pudding

For more information about quinoa, its benefits and how to prepare and cook it, I found this article helpful (click the link).

So add quinoa to your variety of whole grains, and enjoy the benefits!

Rachel Cope MPH, RC, CD