Happy Almost-March Everyone!

You wouldn’t know it by this year’s El Niño, but Spring is just three weeks away! If you haven’t already, it’s time to really kick it into gear if you want to get that beach body this year!

Keep reading…this may help:

Last Saturday night, my weekend chef (otherwise known as Anna – my wife) made her awesome chicken fajitas (sin tortillas porsupuesto). But instead of rice, she made this stuff called Quinoa. I had never heard of it before; but after reading the box and checking it out online, it has now become a desired staple in my regular diet.

Here’s why…

Quinoa “KEEN-wah” is a grain that can be used just like any other complex carbohydrate (i.e. rice or pasta), but has the added benefit of containing higher quality protein than its better known cousins.

While all “starchy” carbs contain protein, none compare to the “amino acid profile” found in Quinoa.

Quinoa, by itself, is a complete protein! A complete protein, as you may know, is made up of 20 amino acids. Eight are essential to the human body; meaning the body can’t produce them. Therefore they need to be part of ones daily diet. They can be found in all animal products (meats, eggs and dairy). The egg has an amino acid profile most similar to the human body. Among other reasons, that’s why bodybuilders consume them in such high quantities. The more foods that one eats resembling the body’s amino acid makeup, the better the groundwork for building bigger and stronger muscles. Thus, providing quicker results from time spent in the gym. Quinoa’s profile closely matches the one found in milk and score very low [35] (which is a good thing) on the glycemic index.

Quinoa only takes 15 minutes to prepare. It’s light, tasty and easy to digest. It is not sticky or heavy like other starches. And, unlike with other grains, you (you vegetarians) don’t have to food combine in order to satisfy your body’s amino acid needs.

So the next time you’re sick of eating meat or feel bloated from eating too much rice, potatoes or pasta, try Quinoa. I bet you won’t miss those carb cravings as much as you think. And no, I don’t hold stock in any shares of Quinoa!