Proteins are important building blocks for a growing child. They are required for growth, maintenance and repair of body tissues. Different kinds of specialized proteins also perform many important functions like carrying oxygen in our cells and fighting infections. In a recent Ask the Expert column, dietitian Emma Stirling wrote about protein power and offered tips on getting enough protein in your child’s diet. Children 1-3 years old need about 0.5 g of protein per pound of body weight, which comes to about 13-16 g of daily protein. In most cases, it is not a problem to get this much from a typical American diet. But if you have a picky eater, or if you are following a strict vegetarian diet, you need to pay a little extra attention to your child’s protein needs.

In this week’s Five for Fridays, I want to highlight 5 vegetarian sources of proteins. We routinely include them in our meals using many of our simple recipes. Even if you are not a strict vegetarian, you can try them occasionally to bring variety to your diet.

Lentils

Source: Wikimedia

Lentils are dry seeds of a pulse crop. They are rich in protein, iron, dietary fiber and B vitamins. More importantly, they are rich in the essential amino acids (there are 9 essential amino acids our body cannot produce). Sprouted lentils provide all of the 9 amino acids. On a 100 g dry weight basis, lentils provide 26 g of protein! Just like whole grains, soaking lentils  in water removes phytates which allows better mineral absorption in the GI tract.

One of our favorite recipes is a lentil soup which we often eat with basmati rice.

Chick Peas

Source: Wikimedia

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, have been around for a long time! You will find them in almost any cuisine around the world, especially in the Middle East, Mediterranean and South East Asia. They are super rich in protein, vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc.

Here is one of our recipes with beef and chickpeas. There are many different ways to cook chickpeas without any meat.

Red Kidney Beans

Wikimedia Commons

There are many different types of beans, but our favorite are red kidney beans. They provide a lot of protein, iron, calcium, B vitamins, magnesium and zinc. Soaking them in water overnight reduces cooking time and removes complex sugars that would otherwise cause indigestion and gas.

Red kidney beans with olive oil is one of our favorite recipes.

Nuts

Source: Wikimedia

Unlike vegetables, nuts are actually dried fruit. If your child does not have any allergies to nuts, they can offer a good balance of calories from fat, carbs and proteins. Our favorites are almonds, walnuts, pecans and hazelnut. We like to soak almonds overnight in water then peel the skin off before eating the soft white core. We use walnuts in salads and pecans in some of our recipes like the steak and vegetables with pecans casserole. Nuts also provide healthy fats such as monounsaturated fats and omega 3 fatty acids.

Quinoa

We discovered quinoa not too long ago, and since then it has taken up a regular place in our kitchen cabinets. Quinoa is really the unrecognized superfood because it is not so common in America. It is beginning to be more available now in some stores, so check it out! It is low in glycemic index, and although it is not a grain, it can be a nice replacement to rice with your entree. It is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals.

One of our favorite recipe is chicken with quinoa. And for the strictly vegetarian, here is our quinoa with vegetables.

Enjoy these recipes and let me know what is on your mind!

©2010 Littlestomaks.com

It seems like there has been an increase in new quinoa products, or maybe it is because we now pay more attention to them on our shopping trips! We call it the unrecognized superfood. It does take a little getting used to and develop a taste for it. But there is no doubt about its exceptional nutritional value.

That is why we are glad to have stumbled upon yet another quinoa product from Ancient Harvest, this time in the form of flakes. You can use them as a hot breakfast cereal, which I have already tried twice this week. I added a few raisins and a spoon of honey to improve its taste. Quinoa flakes can also be used in pancakes or waffles, or as a coating for cooking fish or chicken.

Here is what we like about this product -

1. Made with 100% organic quinoa
2. Very easy to make a hot breakfast cereal, just like oatmeal
3. Rich in iron, phosphorus, thiamin (vitmain B1) and riboflavin (vitamin B2)
4. Gluten free, non GMO
5. No saturated fat or trans fat, no cholesterol, no added sugar
6. 2.4 g fiber, 4.3 g protein per serving
7. Quinoa is a low glycemic index grain and it contains many amino acids (building blocks of proteins)

Here is what we don’t like about this product -

1. Although easy to use, you really need to improve its taste as a hot breakfast cereal.

Overall, we are giving it a thumbs up. I think this is a great idea and we plan to make other recipes using this product!

Disclaimer – I have not received any sponsorship or free samples of product from Ancient Harvest Quinoa for writing this review. For complete nutritional information and other products, visit Quinoa Corporation.

©2010 Littlestomaks.com

Greetings! It is Friday again, which means it is time for our weekly Five for Fridays where I usually highlight interesting food and nutrition articles of the week. But this week I want to highlight 5 interesting comments from readers of this blog which they wrote last year on different articles. Your comments inspire me and add so much value to my articles that it would be a shame to keep them buried in the archives! Plus, this is a good way to recognize those who take the time to leave a thoughtful comment. Many of them have blogs of their own, which I highly recommend you to visit via the links in each of the titles below.

I will be highlighting more comments in future posts; for now, enjoy these 5 insightful comments. If I did not pick your comment, just hang in there and look out for another post in future. And of course, feel free to share your opinions in a comment!

In response to my review of popular toddler multivitamins,  Tommy’s Mommy recommended paying attention to the recommended dosage

What a good guide to vitamins! My 11-yr-old has been taking Centrum Kids for years because he is my picky eater. I just tried it with my toddler because he has had a bad cold and hasn’t been eating like his normal self the last few days. A couple of observations…

I think you’ve addressed this, but parents need to make sure they check the dosage of vitamins. I cut one Centrum in half for my toddler as per instructions. Secondly, he loved the sweet, tasty vitamin so much he cried when I didn’t give him another. I don’t think I’ll give him any more when he’s eating well again.

Jenna of KidAppeal shared her enthusiasm for leeks and offered these interesting tips when she read my recipe for leeks with olive oil

I love leeks! thx for sharing this recipe. i tell the boys they are “ginormous” onions. eating super huge food is fun for kids. if your recipe doesn’t use all all your leeks, wash them, slice them and put in a zip lock back and store in freezer. take out a handful when you need them to saute and flavor sauces, soups, etc.

members of the onion family are also anti-bacterial by making the body inhospitable to bad bacteria that causes illness. eat onions/leeks to stay free from illness.

TTD-you could make a larger recipe and freeze half for a quick supper that only requires re-heating the next week!

When a reader asked about healthy superfoods for a 12 month old, registered dietitian Milton Stokes offered these additional details to his expert article about retooling your toddler’s diet effortlessly

Nothing beats breastfeeding. So good for you and your baby! Weaning may take place during the 6 – 12 month range.

For the one-year mark, it’s time for solids. At this point your child should eat during normal meal times and eat with the family where the family eats. Texture should be soft, chopped and/or easily gummed depending upon dentition. Avoid making separate, special meals just for your child. Some variation of the family’s meal is preferred. In other words, don’t create a routine of being a short-order cook.

An introduction of up to 20 times may seem excessive, but it’s not. As I said before, what a parent eats–how she models food consumption–is far superior to anything else. I discourage emphasizing certain foods as “good” or “bad,” or using food for any purpose other than nourishment. (For example, refrain from rewarding with food.)

Now, to actually answer your question: nothing is more “super” than fruits and veggies and whole grains. You may need to present them differently and call them different names. Instead of apples, call them “apple smiles” or “smiley fruit.” Or you could cook the apple in the microwave and fill the center with oats, a little brown sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Call it the “apple cave.” Additionally, you can slice bananas and call them “wheels” or “flying saucers.” Another common one is “trees” for broccoli. (Cook and/or chop tough foods to prevent choking.)

Do you have a garden. Let your daughter help you. “Help” may mean play in the dirt, but at least it’s some exposure. Little by little her diet will change/improve. Just note: her stomach only holds a tiny bit of food compared to an adult’s, so you don’t have to worry if she only eats a couple cooked carrot sticks.

Kayris offered this simple recipe for a greek-style salad with quinoa when she read my review article quinoa – the unrecognized superfood

We love quinoa, and it IS so eay to prepare.

My favorite way to make it is in this Greek-style salad:
One cup quinoa, cooked as directed (or you can sub any other grain, I have made this with bulgur and also with couscous)
1 cucumber, chopped (peel it if you like)
1 large tomato, chopped
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
Italian or Greek salad dressing until saturated (I usually use homemade Italian dressing)

Alina shared her success with herb tea instead of sugary drinks in response to shaking off a sweet addiction

I introduced herbal teas to my daughter who is now 16 months old. I wanted to offer her something different than just water and milk. And I didn’t want to go with juice which is so sweet, even when diluted. So I have offered her some basic, caffeine-free herbal teas such as chamomile. You can add ice as a refreshing cool drink or serve warm or at room temperature.

Like any new foods, I had to offer it to her many many times before she actually drank it. I think that’s where some parents go wrong with juice — it’s sweet so the child will drink it right away. But I have found my toddlers will eat non-sweet foods (or drinks), it just may take longer for them to like the taste. Also it really helps when they can see you drinking the same thing. And with tea, there is the fun part of preparing the tea…. adding the tea bag, waiting for it to steep, adding some ice, etc!

To any parents who would like to try offering tea in a sippy cup, make sure to read the label carefully because some herbal teas do contain caffeine or other “odd” ingredients.

Enjoy and let me know what is on your mind.

Photo Source: Just chaos on Flickr via everystockphoto

©2010 Littlestomaks.com

I have been keeping an eye on quinoa products lately, particularly after we found the Ancient Harvest Quinoa Pasta recently. As a grain, quinoa has exceptionally high nutritional value, but it takes a while to develop a taste for it. You can try it in a recipe like our popular chicken with quinoa, or even serve as a side dish all by itself!

Pasta made from quinoa flour certainly is a novelty in my opinion. This way, kids can get to develop a taste for quinoa in a familiar form. We found this particular quinoa from Andean Dream in our local Whole Foods Market. What invited my interest was the fact that this pasta was made from a mix of organic quinoa flour and organic rice flour, unlike the corn flour used in the Ancient Harvest Quinoa.

Here is our short review – if you try this product, let us know how you like it.

Here is what we like about this product -

1. USDA certified organic
2. Gluten free
3. No saturated fat or trans fats, no cholesterol
4. 6 g protein per serving, 3 g fiber
5. Quinoa is rich in B vitamins and iron
6. Quinoa is low in glycemic index

Here is what we don’t like about this product -

1. Does not taste like pasta, more like a rice noodle

Overall, I think it is worth a try! It may work well in oriental recipes which use rice noodles!

Disclaimer – I have not received any sponsorship or free samples of product from Andean Dream for writing this review. For complete nutritional information and other products, visit Andean Dream’s website.
©2010 Littlestomaks.com

We have recently become fans of quinoa, which we call the unrecognized superfood because of its exceptional nutritional value and because not many people know about it. That is why we were pleasantly surprised to find a pasta made from quinoa flour on a recent trip to our local Publix supermarket. We bought the shell pasta to try with our twins and it went really well! They loved the cooked pasta shells with a layer of shredded cheddar on top.

Here is what we like about this product -

1. Made with a mix of quinoa and non-GMO corn flour
2. Looks and tastes like regular pasta
3. Rich in iron, thiamin (vitmain B1) and riboflavin (vitamin B2). Unlike regular pasta these are not added vitamins
4. Gluten free, non GMO
5. No saturated fat or trans fat, no cholesterol, no added sugar
6. 4 g fiber, 4 g protein per serving
7. Quinoa is a low glycemic index grain and it contains many amino acids (building blocks of proteins)

Here is what we don’t like about this product -

1. Adding corn flour, while necessary to make the shape, diminishes quinoa’s value. Serving size is 57 g; if it were all quinoa, you would get a lot more protein, fiber, vitamins and nutrients.

Overall, we are giving it a thumbs up. I think this is a great idea!

Disclaimer – I have not received any sponsorship or free samples of product from Ancient Harvest Quinoa for writing this review. For complete nutritional information and other products, visit Quinoa Corporation.

©2010 Littlestomaks.com

Ever since we started participating in  Big Words Little Foodies from Jenna of KidAppeal, it has been fun keeping track of funny conversations with our twins at the dinner table. Sometimes they say adult-like things in an amusing way, which turns out to be quite entertaining!

A couple of days back, TwinToddlersMom tried a new trick to encourage them to try different things on the table. She suggested they do an experiment.

Mom: Hey guys, let us do an experiment. Experiment means you try something new (as in food from the table), if you like it, you can eat it. If not, you can spit it out.

Daughter: Hmmm…that is a good idea!

Mom: You want to try this chicken experiment?

Mom asked as she offered a few bite size pieces from a rotisserie chicken she had bought that day.

Daughter: I like this experiment!

She exclaimed as she ate the chicken along with her quinoa shell pasta.

Dad, not wanting to be left behind, offered a few of the green beans from our usual green beans with olive oil recipe.

Daughter: No, thank you. I don’t like that experiment!

The way she said it was hilarious!

In the spirit of sharing recipes, we want to introduce you to shell pasta made from quinoa and corn flour. It looks and even tastes like ordinary pasta, but it is much more nutritious because of quinoa. We found this gluten-free organic pasta from Ancient Harvest on a recent trip to our local Publix supermarket. Cooked shell pasta with shredded cheddar cheese makes a good substitute for the routine Mac ‘n cheese. And in this case, it is even a better options since the pasta is made from quinoa.

Here is the recipe for the quinoa shell pasta:

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb gluten-free organic shell pasta from Ancient Harvest Quinoa
2. 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3. Shredded cheddar cheese

Method:

Cook pasta the usual way, drain and set aside once cooked. Add olive oil to a large saucepan and warm a little on low heat. Add cooked pasta and stir well so it is uniformly coated with olive oil. Serve immediately in a bowl. Spread a layer of shredded cheese on top.

Enjoy these other mealtime funny stories and simple recipes -

Diesel food for a diesel engine
Give me some vitamin W soup
Look mommy, C is hanging from the spoon

©2010 Littlestomaks.com

Greetings! Here are 5 nutrition related articles that caught my eye this week. Enjoy and drop me a comment to share your thoughts.

Snacks are in, Meals are out

That is our eating culture today according to this story in the recent New York Times. Research conducted by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services between 1997 and 2002 found that fewer children ate 3 meals a day while the percentage of those who had a snack instead went up by 40%. This should hardly be a surprise since snacks are now available everywhere. And parents are asked to bring snacks to sporting events or other extracurricular activities. It is no wonder that the traditional family meal is no longer a tradition now except around the Holidays!

Right now, we are experiencing this problem first hand. It takes a lot of effort to create a distinction between mealtime and snack time. Healthy snacks have a place in a child’s diet, but when they begin to demand their favorite snacks at regular mealtimes, you have to draw the line. Snacks are meant to keep them from getting too hungry between meals. Not as a substitute for regular wholesome family meals. So we are trying to be gentle, yet firm in our approach to having our twins understand this difference. Share your tips for getting your child to eat regular meals and not demand snacks and mealtimes.

Obesity rates are flat, but that’s no reason to celebrate

New data from CDC suggests that obesity rates among US adults have reached a plateau, which means they are not rising anymore. But the bad news is that the number is quite high – nearly 34% of the US adults are obese, which is nearly double the number about 30 years ago. Although the number of obese children is at about 17%, this number as tripled over the same time frame. Some may see this as “halting the obesity epidemic”, but I think that attitude does nothing to solve the problem at hand.

This graph in the New York Times is interesting. It shows that Hispanic and African American children 2-5 year old have a higher rates of obesity (BMI is >95% of children in this age group) compared to White children of the same age. Same conclusion can be drawn for adults 20 and older. There is a clear correlation between race and, more importantly, the socioeconomic status, and obesity. And I don’t think there is any coherent strategy to target this group of people to solve this problem. There is no reason we should get complacent about “flat” rates of obesity in the US. This problem is deep and quite severe.

Fuel Up to Play 60

This is an interesting program sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the NFL to encourage kids to eat healthy, play at least 60 minutes a day and do fun activities in and out of school. Kids and Schools can enroll in a competition of sorts where they score points by tracking their food choices and activities. Even the USDA has joined in as a partner.

I think this is a great project. More than anything else, it will get kids to pay attention to what they are eating on a daily basis. I strongly believe in the power of measurement – you get better only when you measure. That is why tracking the food choices and physical activity is a good idea. And of course if they win, they get to hang out with NFL players, which is also very cool!

The only thing to watch out for is that undoubtedly dairy products including flavored milk will be pushed into schools and kids will be encouraged to grab them so they can “score” points. Milk is a far better option than soda or other sugary drinks in schools, but too much flavored milk is also not good. The reason is that it has added sugar in addition to the natural sugar found in plain milk.

Bottom line – stick to plain milk, eat fruits and veggies and give up on soda and junk food. But do bring this program to the attention of your child’s school if they don’t know about it. 60,000 schools have already signed up!

Here are 2 neat recipe ideas for you this week

Take the beef out of your burger and (still) enjoy the experience

Who doesn’t love to sink their teeth in a thick, juicy burger?! But with so many scary stories of E. coli contaminated beef recently, even the most devoted burger fan is probably looking for safer options. This article in the Well column of the New York Times offers 5 ways of enjoying a beef-less burger! You can make burger-like patties by combining fish, chicken, turkey, vegetables, beans  and mushrooms. Sounds like a good idea, certainly worth trying.

Cold quinoa salad with feta cheese

We like quinoa and we love feta cheese! That is why this simple recipe on The Nourished Kitchen caught my eye. First you cook the quinoa and chill it before preparing the whole salad. Aside from the feta cheese it also calls for chicken and pine nuts, both very healthy ingredients. I could also consider experimenting with finely chopped pieces of apple. Overall, it looks very good and worth a try.

Enjoy and let me know what is on your mind.

Photo Source: adactio on Flickr via everystockphoto
©2010 Littlestomaks.com

Ever since we discovered quinoa a while back, we have been trying to make different recipes with it. This one is another very quick and simple recipe you can make easily. It tasted great and provided a good way to get some veggies in front of our twins.

Ingredients

1. 1 cup organic quinoa (we used the 365 brand from Whole Foods)
2. 1 cup cauliflower florets
3. 1 cup carrots, chopped
4. 1 tbsp finely chopped green onions
5. 2 – 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley)
6. 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
7. 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
8. salt, pepper and soy sauce to taste
9. 2 cups water

Method

Rinse quinoa well. Add quinoa, cauliflower, carrots and water in a saucepan, cover and bring to a boil. Season with soy sauce, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer about 15 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed and quinoa is opened up. When cooked, the quinoa grain appears soft and translucent. The germ ring is visible along the outside edge of the grain as seen in the picture above. Slowly fold in cilantro, green onions, vinegar and olive oil. Serve immediately.

©2010 Littlestomaks.com

It has been an excellent year blogging about toddler nutrition! When I started writing back in the Fall of 2008, I did not realize how exciting it could be to learn and write about all aspects of a young child’s nutrition and growth. Blogging has also given me an opportunity to connect with both experts and moms in a unique way!

As we close on 2009, I would like to reflect upon the more than 220 posts I have published on this blog. Whether you are a brand new visitor, or a regular reader of this blog, I invite you to check out these top 10 posts of 2009 in terms of page views and comments.

Enjoy and let me know what is on your mind!

	Attachment Parenting and Toddler Nutrition This post by Annie of PhD In Parenting explains what it means to feed your child with love and respect. It is one of the 8 guiding principles of Attachment Parenting.
	All Natural Toddler Multivitamin My review of Floradix Kinder Love Children’s Multivitamin Liquid Extract Formula attracted a lot of attention because it is based on herbal extracts and fruit juices. It claims to be easy on the child’s digestive system while providing vitamins A, B, C, D and E. It is not a good source of minerals.
	Simple Recipes – Chicken with Quinoa This is a very easy recipe to make! Quinoa, in my opinion, is the unrecognized superfood because it is a good source of protein and low glycemic index carbs. It also provides a good mix of vitamins and minerals.
	Ask the Expert – Sushi and Toddlers If you are a sushi lover and you are thinking about introducing your toddler to sushi, you have got to read this informative piece from registered dietitian Janet Helm. She writes a great blog at Nutrition Unplugged with tons of excellent information about nutrition and food trends.
	Looking for a Multivitamin Supplement? This is a “mini” guide to toddler vitamin supplements on the market. If you are considering a supplement for your child, you can use a simple comparison chart in this post. Centrum Kids and Flintstones Complete offer a good balance of complete vitamins and minerals. But the most important advice is to rely on a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
	5 Reasons to Consider a Multivitamin Supplement I heard a variety of opinions from Moms who took my Global Toddler survey about use of multivitamins. In this post, I highlight 5 main reasons why you might consider it for your child. Vitamins should not be used to “fix” nutrition and eating issues; rather you should rely on them to supplement a balanced diet.
	Basmati Rice: It is Very Easy to Cook and You Will Love It’s Flavor and Fragrance We love basmati rice! It is an excellent source of low glycemic index carbohydrates. Try my simple recipe to cook it as a separate side dish. You can also try some of the links in this post for other great recipes.
	Help! My Kids Don’t Eat Enough Fruits and Veggies! This is a very common concern of most toddler parents. In this article, pediatrician Dr Ayala Laufer-Cahana offers a few practical tips to get your kids interested in fruits and veggies. Check out her blog at Ayala’s Herbal Water.
	Traffic Light and Food Labeling Clearly, consumers want simple and easy to understand front of the box food labels. FDA is worried about accuracy and manipulation by the food industry. A traffic light based food labeling system is gaining popularity in UK and Australia. It is not perfect, but clearly a step in the right direction.
	Think Play-Nutrition-Rest for Long Term Health of Your Children Play is an important part of your child’s physical, mental and emotional growth. Combine it with good nutrition and enough rest for long term health of your toddler.

Web statistics are surely important, but there are a lot of other articles which I am particularly very passionate about. Here are a few of my favorites. I hope you will check them out and leave me a comment with your opinion!

1. Twinkie tax will do nothing to reduce the sweetness
2. Shaking off a sweet addiction
3. Why we must address childhood obesity NOW
4. Good nutrition key to managing food allergy
5. Healthy fats for children

©2009 Littlestomaks.com

We are vacationing in Disney World this week with our twins! Hope you all are having a great week so far. Here are 5 of our most popular toddler-friendly simple recipes from the archives. Try them out and let us know what you think. And of course, if you have a recipe of your own you would like to share with us, please do not hesitate to drop a comment.

1. Chicken with Quinoa
2. Ground Beef with Zucchini
3. Red Kidney Beans with Olive Oil
4. Protein Smoothie
5. Leeks with Olive Oil

Photo Source: gadjoboy on Flickr via everystockphoto
©2009 Littlestomaks.com

It has a funny name, but it’s nutritional value is not a joke!

Honestly, we did not know about quinoa until very recently, and chances are it hasn’t yet gotten on your shopping list either. Check it out; in fact it is so nutritious that at one point even NASA looked at it for long duration space flight missions!

Here are a few interesting facts about quinoa, tips for cooking and a few simple recipes.

It looks like a grain but it is not

Quinoa (pronounced as keen-wa or kin-wa) sold in stores is actually a seed of the plant, which is closely related to plant species such as beets, spinach and tumbleweeds. According to the wikipedia entry on quinoa, it is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, or grain, as it is not a grass. Rice, wheat, barely, maize, oats are examples of cereals. Usually it is pale yellow in color, but some of the species can be of different colors. For example, recently we got red quinoa:

Check out this article for more details on the history of quinoa.

It is super easy to cook

We cook it almost exactly the same way we cook basmati rice.

Mix 2 parts water to 1 part quinoa in a large saucepan. Add a little olive oil and stir well to mix. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower heat and cover tightly. Let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until all water is absorbed and quinoa is soft. When cooked, the grain appears soft and translucent. The germ ring is visible along the outside edge of the grain as seen in the picture below:

It is important to wash the quinoa thoroughly with water before cooking otherwise you will get a slightly bitter after-taste. In its natural form quinoa has a coating of saponin, a bitter tasting chemical, which is usually washed off during processing. Still, it may contain a small amount when you buy it in stores. You can easily wash it off, or soak it in water for an hour or so before cooking. Sometimes, we use chicken broth to cook with instead of water. Or make a recipe with vegetables or chicken after cooking separately. Here are links to two of our recent simple recipes you can try -

Chicken with quinoa

Grilled chicken with quinoa and salad

Here are some more quinoa recipes from the Quinoa Corporation. We bought their Ancient Harvest brand of organic quinoa from Wholefoods.

It has excellent nutritional value

According to the Quinoa Corporation, here are a few nutritional facts about quinoa:

• It is 35 on glycemic index, which is quite low. Low glycemic index foods are good for you because they do not cause the blood glucose levels to rise rapidly after they are eaten. That means your body is not working overtime to produce insulin after you eat.
• It is alkaline (meaning not acidic but basic), which is good for maintaining the acid balance in your digestive system.
• It is an excellent source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber. It is also a good source of protein.
• It has a lot of vitamins and minerals like iron and zinc.
• It is gluten-free.

Here is a nutritional facts label from Wikipedia:

You can find it in Whole Foods or other specialty health stores

We usually buy quinoa from our local Whole Foods market. Check out your local area or look for a specialty store selling natural or organic health foods. You can also buy in bulk from the Quinoa Corporation.

Go ahead, give quinoa a try! And feel free to share a recipe if you like it.

©2009 Littlestomaks.com

Ingredients

1. 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken thighs, about 8 pieces (optionally chicken breast)
2. 1 cup organic quinoa (we use Ancient Harvest brand quinoa from Wholefoods)
3. 1 jar mango marinade for grilling (or your favorite sauce)
4. 1 can chicken broth (optional)
5. 2 cups water
6. Mixed greens, grated carrots, tomatoes and fruits for salad

Method

Wash chicken thighs, remove excess water and set aside in a large bowl. Add the marinade sauce, mix well, cover and keep refrigerated for about an hour. Grill over low-medium heat for 20-25 minutes. Lightly brush the marinade sauce during grilling for added flavor. Cut into bite size pieces before serving to your toddlers.

Thoroughly wash quinoa and add to a 1 1/2 quart saucepan with water (or chicken broth). Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower heat and cover tightly. Let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until all water is absorbed and quinoa is soft. When cooked, the grain appears soft and translucent. The germ ring is visible along the outside edge of the grain.

Serve with a tossed salad of mixed greens, grated carrots, tomatoes and black/blue berries. Our usual salad dressing is a simple olive oil and lemon mix with a little salt and pepper.

©2009 Littlestomaks.com

4 Adult Servings, 8 Toddler Servings

The inspiration for this recipe came from the March 2009 issue of Family Fun magazine. TwinToddlersMom altered it a little to suit our taste and match with the available ingredients

Ingredients

1. 1 cup organic quinoa, rinsed well (we used Arrowhead Mills brand from Wholefoods Store)
2. 6  boneless, skinless chicken thighs (~ 2 lb)
3. 1 medium onion, finely chopped
4. 3 cups organic chicken broth
5. 1/2 cup sweet peas, cooked
6. 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
7. 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
8. 1/2 tsp oregano
9. 1 tsp dry parsley
10. 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
11. 2 tbsp tomato paste
12. Grated mozzarella or parmesan cheese, about 1/2 cup
13. salt and pepper to taste

Method

Wash chicken thoroughly and marinade with salt, black pepper, oregano, garlic, parsley and 1 tbsp of olive oil for about 30 minutes. Saute onion in 2 tbsp of olive oil on medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Add vinegar and tomato paste, mix well and saute for another 2 minutes. Add marinated chicken to the mix and cook covered for 25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink inside. Turn the chicken pieces occasionally to coat them with the sauce. Add chicken broth and stir in quinoa and stir, reduce the heat and cook uncovered for 15 minutes. Before serving, garnish with peas and cheese. Let it sit a while for excess liquid to be absorbed.

About Quinoa

Quinoa, which the Incans called the “mother of all grains”, is a rich source of carbohydrate with dietary fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. Quinoa also seems to have a low glycmeic index. I have seen numbers ranging from 30 to 50. This makes it a low GI carbohydrate. Eating low GI carbs allows a slower release of insulin. In general, this is good for reducing the risk of diabetes and hear disease. Another interesting information – at one point, NASA was considering Quinoa for use in long-term human space flights because of its excellent nutritional value.

Quinoa photo source: Wikimedia Commons
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