to quinoa or not to quinoa...

so ive read about quinoa and how its a great complete food item to eat. however it also seems to be terribly high in calories. i think one brand called "seeds of change" sells it and its 290 cals for one cooked cup. that seems like an awful lot for just grains!

so...is it worth it? should i eat quinoa or not?

Mon. Aug 20, 4:22pm

I'm surprised that such a fuss is made about its protein content. 2oz dry has the same amount as spaghetti (7g) or two slices of whole wheat bread (6g). I just think of it as another wholegrain alternative, much like couscous or barley.

Monday, August 20, 2007, 4:26 PM

Quinoa is very healthy. It contains the full complement of amino acids, as well as some fiber and other vitamins. You don't need to eat a full cup, I typically just eat half a cup of any grain. That's not so bad on the calories, then: 145. Try it instead of rice in a pilaf: add bits of cooked onion, mushroom, carrot, peas. Or, I like it with spaghetti sauce on it as well. :)

Monday, August 20, 2007, 4:33 PM

Go with a half cup serving as the previous poster suggested. A serving size of rice, couscous, and many other grains (as well as many lentils) is a 1/2 cup and they are about the same calories as quinoa. It's not super high in calories. It's very filling and nutritious.

Monday, August 20, 2007, 9:59 PM

That stuff is pretty dense - I don't think I could eat an entire cup. I like it allright in some dishes and wouldn't use it in others. Basically I use it just like any other grain and I like to use a variety of grains as much as I can. Once I moved out of my parents house and discovered there were other things than white rice and potatoes for starches I got a little giddy ;-)

As another poster noted though it's not something I would really eat by itself. It's good in salads and veggie dishes and a little goes a long way.

Monday, August 20, 2007, 11:19 PM

I make quinoa all the time but can say I have never seen it at 290 cal for 1 cp, mine is 180 cal for a cup. I don't mind the white quinoa but the red is much tastier, its nuttier and more flavorful.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007, 1:38 AM

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