Quinoa
More herb than grain, quinoa is proof that good things come in small packages, for it is tiny indeed. Therein lies its difficulty.
We treat quinoa as a grain, but Webster defines it as an Andean goosefoot raised by the Indians for its edible seeds.
Nutrition:
- Gluten-free
- Contains a good amino acid balance
- High in fiber
- High in complex carbohydrates
- High in lysine and essential vitamins
Quinoa is a gift to soup, as it functions as a thickener that doesn't become gummy or pasty. Have some at hand if you've added a little too much water to soup. You'll increase your nutrition as well.
The grain Quinoa has 160 calories per quarter cup uncooked, 10 percent of your daily Fiber and about as much Protein as in an ounce of fish. At 8 milligrams of iron per half cup, quinoa is a good source of iron as well as Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Zinc.
