Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) if often grouped into the ‘cereal’ or ‘grain’ category but it is actually a seed and a member of the same family that contains spinach, Swiss chard and beets. Unlike its cereal counterparts, this humble seed provides a complete source of protein and does not contain the phytic acid compounds that most raw grains have that can block nutrient absorption. Being a complete source of essential amino acids, quinoa is the perfect food for vegans and vegetarians.
Quinoa is a powerhouse of nutrition and can easily be incorporated in your diet. Cooked in much the same way as rice, quinoa is deliciously light and fluffy with a slight nutty flavour. This little seed is highly versatile; it can be added to salads, turned into a sweet hot breakfast, thrown into soups and even baked into muffins used as a flour substitute!