Healthy Eats | To Quinoa, or Not to Quinoa? That's The Question.
- La'Tara Jackson
- Oct 25, 2023
- 3 min read
Quinoa and Carbs!
Clearly this is a pro-carb environment! What many are afraid to discuss, we do it here! Those who may not be macro-nutrient savvy run when they hear the word carbs. If this is you, there's nothing to fear! You are in the right place to learn all you need to know about them and their health benefits. I can sum carbs up in three words, we NEED them! Which brings me to today's feature, quinoa. It's not a low-carb food. A cup of cooked quinoa has more than 39 grams of carbohydrates. That's 50% more than in the same amount of brown rice and almost as many carbs as in white rice. If you have type 2 diabetes or other conditions, you may be watching how many carbs you eat. Here is why we speak about the importance of macronutrients here. It is not about omitting certain nutrients completely out of your diet but learning how much you should consume based on your goals. When we run from certain discussions, we miss out on vital information that could impact our overall health, wellness and quality of life. The more you know, the more you grow.
Umm, What it Taste Like?
Let me be very honest, which I always strive to do, this lentil has and continues to grow on me. I wouldn't say it would have been my first pick on the grain isle. The only reason I consume quinoa is due to its health benefits. I've stated previously, I have acquired the mindset to learn to love what's good for me even if I don't like it. For the most part, it's pretty much tasteless, and very similar to grits in texture. I wouldn't compare it to rice because even unseasoned white rice taste like rice. Ha! Quinoa to me, taste like nothing on its own, even when you add a bit of seasoning. Still, it's very nutritious in comparison to other lentils which leads me to find new and different ways to eat it. Here are a few meals I've tried on my journey.
Meal Ideas
✨ Quinoa + Beans
As a healthier substitute for rice, quinoa is a great alternative to add to any lifestyle and not just for the vegetarians of the world. While I was healing my body of a certain dis-ease, I stuck to a very stringent meal plan that included quinoa. The featured photo is what one of those meals consisted of. Believe it or not, this was tasty!
✨ Quinoa Salad
I ran across a girl on TikTok recommending a quinoa salmon salad for great skin and I was all ears! I don't have bad skin but I am always looking for ways to heal the body (skin included) with food since food is medicine. Her transformation was great and I love salmon! Surprisingly but not really, this recipe was really good! Check out her content, Taila, @misstaibaby. She always post healthy and delicious meal ideas. Love her!
✨ Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers
This one is kind of a no brainer for me since I'd normally make this with rice. This meal idea is delicious, and super simple. To make it ultra healthy, swap out ground beef for ground turkey, rice for quinoa, season it well, sprinkle cilantro and vegan cheese on top and bake until cheese melts. OMG, so good!
Final Thoughts | Now That You Know...
I feel like we make better decisions when we are well informed. It is not safe to jump to conclusions without first knowing the pros and cons to anything, quinoa and carbs included.
Our bodies need nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that we can only acquire from a well-balanced diet. To be honest, even then, we may still need supplements to make up for what we don't get in our daily consumption. If living a long and healthy life is a part of your life-goals, eating right should definitely be on your list of to do's. So now that you know how important protein, carbs and fats are to your well-being, what are you going to do about it?
If you’re not sure where to begin with your healthy lifestyle, and or you’re looking for your people to do this walk with, it is possible, I am your people. Change starts with you but it takes a village. To get your FREE wellness profile and more, join my Pretty Beast Fit VIP Community. Plus, be on the lookout for my next workshop. To get first dibs on details, subscribe to my email list.
La'Tara Jackson is Author/Owner of Ground Up Self-Love Workbook and .com, and Holistic Coach both certified in personal training and yoga. She has over eight years experience in nutrition and wellness and it all began with being a single mom desiring a better life for herself and children by starting a woman's community bootcamp that would go on to change the lives of many. And that was just the beginning.
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