and what better way to celebrate it than with one of the most popular, protein-packed and easy-to-cook whole grains, quinoa (pronounced keen-wah).<\/span><\/p>\nBut first, what does \u201cwhole grain\u201d really mean?<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s essentially a grain in its whole, original form (i.e., nothing has been stripped from it and it hasn\u2019t been highly processed). <\/span><\/p>\nWhole grains give the whole<\/em> benefit: they are loaded with nutrients, they satisfy appetites and they provide long-lasting energy. Grains not in their whole state are typically highly refined leftover starches that provide little nutritional value and are often short-term hunger fixes. Always look for the word \u201cwhole\u201d in the ingredient lists for the best source of grain.<\/span><\/p>\nThere are many types of whole grains including oats, amaranth, millet, barley, corn and quinoa. <\/span><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s so great about quinoa?<\/h2>\n
Ironically, quinoa is technically not a grain; it\u2019s an edible seed more closely related to spinach as it falls in the same family of plants. While quinoa is a seed, it\u2019s cooked and eaten like grains, which is why it falls in the \u201cwhole grain\u201d category. It\u2019s a popular seed because it\u2019s simple-to-make, tasty, fluffy in texture (when cooked), a complete protein and incredibly versatile. It\u2019s great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And, an added bonus – a little quinoa goes a long way, which is perfect for your loved ones as it can be eaten for several meals, which saves time and creates more ease in the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\nHow do you make quinoa?<\/h2>\n
Quinoa can be ready to eat and enjoyed in about 15 minutes by following these 3 easy and quick steps: <\/span><\/p>\n\n- Rinse 1 cup of quinoa through a small mesh strainer <\/span><\/li>\n
- Add the cup of quinoa to 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil<\/span><\/li>\n
- Reduce the heat to low, cover and allow the quinoa to simmer (approximately 15 min) until fluffy (note: there shouldn\u2019t be any remaining water).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
What are the best ways to eat quinoa?<\/h2>\n
Quinoa can be eaten in a variety of ways, whether it\u2019s eaten plain or with seasoning, as a side or main dish or as a breakfast or dinner option. <\/span><\/p>\nFor example, quinoa can be eaten as a sweet breakfast food by simply adding a little cinnamon, raisins and fruit to it. For lunch, quinoa can be added to a green leafy salad making it a heartier mid-day meal option. And for dinner, quinoa can be eaten as a main dish by mixing it with various spices and vegetables. There are so many easy ways to get creative with quinoa. <\/span><\/p>\nQuinoa and other whole grains are great, healthy additions to a diet. They provide essential nutrients that help reduce disease, such as heart disease, and they are filling and satisfying which helps crowd out other unhealthy foods that tend to sneak into diets. Now, that\u2019s the whole<\/em> truth!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Whole Benefits of Whole Grains September is Whole Grains Month and what better way to celebrate it than with one of the most popular, protein-packed and easy-to-cook whole grains, quinoa (pronounced keen-wah). But first, what does \u201cwhole grain\u201d really mean? It\u2019s essentially a grain in its whole, original form (i.e., nothing has been stripped from it and it hasn\u2019t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4929,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[200,35],"tags":[79],"class_list":{"0":"post-6788","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-families-caregivers","7":"category-senior-health-fitness","8":"tag-healthy-eating"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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