June has been an extremely busy month of scheduled events and other surprises for me and the whole family! Didn’t get to write for a while but I’m back sharing wonderful milestones and helpful reads for everyone. To start off, sharing some healthy fried rice quinoa recipe. Yes, I have to loose extra weight as soon as possible to keep up with the physical demands of parenting. I was recently diagnosed with mild slipped disc (good thing it’s just mild) and the discomfort and pain is really disturbing. Time to be serious and prioritize health and wellness too! It was a wake up call indeed!

But first let’s get to know what quinoa is for those who don’t or know but need a refresher. I never really tried this before since I usually have doubts the food is called a superfood but anyway I gave it a chance.

How do you really pronounce it?

Quinoa– the right way to say it is “keen-whah” some say “kin-wa” either is okay. The usual pronunciation if you say it for the first time is “keen-o-wa” (again this is the wrong way to say it).

What is it? 

A lot of people normally think quinoa is like rice but it’s actually not. It’s a seed and can be compared to beet or spinach. It has a nutty flavor to it which makes it good. It comes in different colors but the most common is white.

It is very high in fiber. Twice the amount of fiber versus white rice. It has this chewiness to it too when you ea

Can I make it a rice substitute? 

A cup of quinoa is less than 40 calories than a cup of white rice. Most quinoa eaters make it their rice. So yes, you can make it a substitute for rice. But take note there are many other ways to cook quinoa (recipes are actually shared all over the internet) . In terms of calories versus brown rice, quinoa is almost equal with 222 calories per cup while brown rice has 218 calories per cup. Some thought that quinoa has way lower calories which is not really accurate.

How to cook it?

It’s easier than rice. You also have to rinse with water to clean it well. You can cook it like how you cook rice but remember 1 cup of the seeds of quinoa should be cooked in 2 cups of water. They get cooked faster than regular rice.

There are so many ways to cook quinoa but this is just the first we tried (Quinoa fried rice) as we introduce it to our lineup of food at home.

What other nutrients will I get from quinoa?

Iron, B-vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, vitamin E, and fiber. Quinoa is a really good source of protein with 8 grams per cup (that’s high). It is one of only a few plant foods that are considered a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 2 cups quinoa
• cooking oil
• 3/4 to 1 cup mixed vegetables
• salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

1. Fry the scrambled eggs and cut into thin strips or small pieces. Set aside.
2. Fry the mixed veggies( with butter for more taste if you prefer that) add 2 pinches of salt. Set aside.
3. Cook 1 cup of quinoa (rinse with water, add 2 cups of clean water). Set aside.
4. Mix and fry 1,2,3 steps together. Add salt and pepper to taste
5. Share and enjoy!

It’s easier than it looks. Remember, don’t make it too salty it’s supposed to be healthy okay?

Create healthy habits, not restrictions.