Quinoa (Keen-wah) is an ancient food cultivated in the South American Andes since at least 3,000 BC and has been a staple food for many different natives for hundreds of years. The ancient Incas called Quinoa the “mother grain” and thought of it to be sacred. Quinoa was given to the Incan armies that often marched for many day while just eating Quinoa and various fats.

These days quinoa is widely cultivated in Peru, Chile and Bolivia but has just recently been grown outside of South America. In the United States quinoa is unheard of. Grains like barley and rice are what Americans buy in the stores, but you can buy quinoa in almost any natural food store. Unknown to almost all Americans, the Incas were right when they called this food sacred because quinoa has about twice the protein of other grains and fewer carbohydrates!

Photo From: http://www.banlieusardises.com/delices/img/quinoa.jpg

Quinoa actually is not truly a grain but a seed from the Chenopodium plant. It is called a grain because it is used as a grain substitute because of its cooking characteristics that are very similar to rice, barley, and other grains. The easiest way is to cook quinoa is like pasta in a large pot with water. Bring the pot to a boil then add the grain and turn the heat to low and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain the water after an allow the quinoa to cool.

Quinoa is high in protein, calcium and iron and is a good source of vitamin E and other B vitamins. The best thing about this food is that it has a almost perfect balance of all amino acids which makes it a complete protein. These amino acids are needed for tissue development. Yes, that means muscle growth. It is also high in lysine, cystine and methionine (amino acids for calcium absorption, building muscle, immune system, recovering from injuries, and bodies production of hormones and enzymes) which are usually low in other grains.

I have recently heard about this food, one that is of the most nutritious on this planet and have been incorporating it into my diet as much as possible. Here is a recipe that jonji thought of. If you want more recipes just look them up on the internet, there are plenty of really good ones!

Jonji’s recipe

1 cup cooked quinoa (or any amount)

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons of protein powder

2 tablespoons of peanut butter

Once all ingredients are in a bowl, just mix and enjoy!