#15: The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth

00Angela00 · June 2009

This is day fifteen of our education of the 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. Woo Hoo! Some of these you won't be surprised by, some you will. I'll take one out of each food group each day to mix it up a bit.

All information is from the book by jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth".

Day 15: Quinoa

Quinoa is another of those foods that keeps getting miscategorized--everyone thinks it's a grain, everyone uses it like agrain, but it's actually a seed. Anyway, who really cares? You know how the old saying goes ... if it looks like a grain and it acts like a grain ... same principle.

* Quinoa was known by the Incas as the "mother of grains." They used the seeds of this plant as one of their chief sources of nutrition.

* highly nutritious food and is considered a high-protein "grain".

* Protein quality and quantity is often superior to those of more common cereal grains, and the nutritional quality of this crop has been compared to that of dried whole milk by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

* Quinoa is higher in lysine than wheat (lyside is an amino acid that's scarce in the vegetable kingdom)

PREPARING AND EATING QUINOA

You can use quinoa to make flour, soup, or breakfast cereal. most quinoa sold in teh United States has been sold as whole grain that is cooked seperately as rice or in combination dishes such as pilaf. Noted natural-foods expert and author Rebecca Woods suggests cooking about 2 cups of stock or water per cup of quioa, which should yield about 3 cups of cooked grain and take only about 15 minutes to prepare. She reminds us that it is as versatile as rice (and, in my opinion, a good deal better for us) and can be substituted for rice in any recipe, or used as a side dish.

Quinoa has a lower sodium content and is higher in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper, manganese, and zinc than wheat, barley, or corn. It's particularly high in iron-- 1/2 cup contains almost 8mg, way more than any other cereal grain, a hefty 5g of fiber.

For previous posts:
ARTICHOKES: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57017--1-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
OATMEAL: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57180--2-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
BEANS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57278--3-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
APPLES: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57482--4-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
ALMONDS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57516--5-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
EDAMAME: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57602--6-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
BUTTER/GHEE http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57689--7-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
EGGS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57791--8-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
CRUSTACEA: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57940--9-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
BEE POLLEN: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58069--10-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
ACAI JUICE: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58196--11-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
CARDAMOM: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58290--12-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
ALMOND OIL: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58381--13-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
ARUGULA: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58426--14-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth

totallytasha · June 2009

Oh, I like this one!!! We're having it for lunch today. We put some tomatoes and/or cucumbers and some garlic salt in it, and then eat it with tortillas, like a taco filling. Delicious!

TheMaidOfAstolat · June 2009

It's one of my staples...being a vegetarian and finding good protein sources isn't easy. Yummy!

00Angela00 · June 2009

Oh, I like this one!!! We're having it for lunch today. We put some tomatoes and/or cucumbers and some garlic salt in it, and then eat it with tortillas, like a taco filling. Delicious!

I've never thought of eating it that way! That sounds awesome! I just might have to try that!

leann_m_olson · June 2009

Oh, I like this one!!! We're having it for lunch today. We put some tomatoes and/or cucumbers and some garlic salt in it, and then eat it with tortillas, like a taco filling. Delicious!

I've never thought of eating it that way! That sounds awesome! I just might have to try that!

I really want to try this, i keep forgetting to look for it at the store, does anyone know if it is usually found by the rice?

TheMaidOfAstolat · July 2009

Oh, I like this one!!! We're having it for lunch today. We put some tomatoes and/or cucumbers and some garlic salt in it, and then eat it with tortillas, like a taco filling. Delicious!

I've never thought of eating it that way! That sounds awesome! I just might have to try that!

I really want to try this, i keep forgetting to look for it at the store, does anyone know if it is usually found by the rice?

I usually find it by the pastas or in the organic section.

JoyousMaximus · July 2009

I need to try this. It sounds interesting.

Ileanak · July 2009

I usually get mine at the Whole Foods or Sun Harvest markets in bulk. I go through quite a bit of Quinoa and Lentils on a weekly basis (ok, perhpas a cup of cooked each a week). I love both as a staple for natural fiber and some protein. I cook then in chicken stock that I have made and skimmed and season it differently depending on my tastes that week. I usually use some each workday with 3 oz of cooked lean turkey.... very tasty!

Warning about bulk, though... make sure you only buy bulk from stores that are passing through the items quickly. If the item doesn't sell quickly, you could be buying old products.

Ileana

ColinQ · July 2009

I have been recommended this by a friend, and was wondering does it have a taste or is it bland and require taste adding?? I may use this to substitute my rice.

Ileanak · July 2009

I have been recommended this by a friend, and was wondering does it have a taste or is it bland and require taste adding?? I may use this to substitute my rice.

I think Quinoa is a little nutty, but most think that is is pretty bland, however, if you are comparing it to rice, then I am not sure you will have any problem with it. I do cook mine with stock. So I would recommend that you use a low sodium/fat vegetable, chicken or beef stock for a little kick. i also spice mine during the cooking process with garlic and whatever herb goes with the meal~

Good luck!

Ileana

colochel · December 2010

Does the quinoa lose nutrients during the cooking process? Thanks for posting... I've had a bag in my freezer for some time now, but didn't know quite how to prepare it!