Celebrity Superfoods - Quinoa

Quinoa, pronounced ‘keen – wah’ (no doubt because he is keen), is the next contestant on the Bachelor. He’s originally from South America but watch out ladies, we’ve recently spotted him in the fields of Saskatchewan.

Quinoa is the date you’ll want to take to breakfast, lunch, dinner, picnics in the park and introduce to your friends and family (trust us, they’ll love him). Best of all, he has a few varieties, so you’ll never grow tired. At your local health food store you’ll find him in white, black, golden, and red. You’ll also find him rolled out into quinoa flakes, ground into quinoa flour, and made into spaghetti.

You may be tired of hearing about celebrities going gluten-free, but rest assured this is the quality that allows him to get along with all of your friends. He shows great strength as he’s built with all 8 essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. He also brings a sense of relaxation as he’s filled with magnesium, the anti-stress mineral.

In the fields he wards off birds and deer with a coating called saponin. This somewhat bitter substance needs to be washed off before cooking. Simply rinse Quinoa using a strainer and get to the cooking.

He cooks quick and can be incorporated into any meal. For a savoury quinoa dish, simply cook in vegetable broth. For a sweet breakfast dish, reheat with almond milk and serve with hemp seeds and fresh berries or peaches.

Supreme Quinoa Tempeh Stir-fry Recipe

This meal makes my cells happy & will make your cells happy too. It’s simple & nutritious.

Ingredients

½ cup quinoa, rinsed

1 small to medium yam, chopped into cubes (leave the skin on = VITAMINS)

2 cups broccoli, chopped

1 block tempeh, chopped into 1 inch cubes (fermented soy, great for a healthy gut)

1 Tbsp coconut oil

1 tsp turmeric (anti-inflammatory properties!)

1 tsp cayenne (metabolism booster)

nutritional yeast to top it off (rich in Vitamin B12) 

Directions

1. In a pot, bring 1.25 cups water + quinoa to a boil, reduce to simmer and add sweet potato then cover the pot.

2. In a pan heat up 1/2 tbsp coconut oil on low-med heat and add the tempeh and broccoli.

3. After 20 minutes the quinoa and sweet potato will be cooked. Turn off stove and add the quinoa & sweet potato to the pan.

4. Add spices & remaining oil, mix it up, serve on a plate, and top with nutritional yeast.

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Surrounded by the ocean and mountains of Vancouver, Katherine Feeney  is a devoted Holistic Nutritionist teaching others the joy of a healthy lifestyle. Outside of being a nutrition nerd, you'll find her cycling around the city, absorbing energy in the mountains, striking a yoga pose or enjoying a potluck with friends. She loves bouquets of kale, yerba mate, and picnics.