Crazy About Quinoa

I must confess that I'm crazy about quinoa (pronounced keen-wah). I had tried the yellow variety, however I wasn't impressed by the taste. Although the yellow variety is a powerful little food, sadly I found it to be bitter, and wasn't enjoying it. I was told by a friend to give quinoa a second chance by trying the red variety. WOW! Totally different food to me. It wasn't until I fell in love with this ancient grain that I began researching it's high honors. Did you know that quinoa contains all nine essential amino acids? What this means is that you do not need to combine it with any other foods to allow your body to utilize it as a complete protein to build muscles. Quinoa is gluten free which translates into easier digestion, and also means it will not feed harmful bacteria in your intestines. Magnesium has been long known for it's calming effects, making this magnesium rich food a star player as a meal in the evening. We find it nutty, easy to make and very versatile. One of our favorite snacks is salsa on top of a bowl of red quinoa and blue corn chips. This is a perfect take along on a picnic or when you want to bring a healthy hor d'oeuvre to share at a party.