When it comes to food trends, different dishes come and go. One in particular, though, has stood the test of time: quinoa. So why is everyone eating it?
Quinoa was dubbed a super food not long ago, and as a result, it has boomed in popularity. The grain isn’t exactly new, though.
Quinoa is a South American staple and was grown in the Andes over 7,000 years ago. It was actually sacred to the Incas and is still produced in Bolivia and Peru. So basically, it’s not new. It’s just relatively new to other cultures, and that might be due to the United Nations naming 2013 the International Year of Quinoa in order to honor its Andean traditions.
In addition to its long heritage, the grain is also full of nutrition. Not only is it a gluten-free grain making it suitable for those with allergies, but it has tons of minerals, vitamins, and fiber. One cup of quinoa contains magnesium, iron, zinc, and B6 just to name a few of the nutrients, and it has eight grams of protein, four grams of fat, and five grams of fiber.
As for how it’s eaten, quinoa is often eaten bowl style, mixed with proteins and veggies then topped with some sort of dressing.
Want to try quinoa for yourself now? Check out these eight quick and easy quinoa recipes.
