Byte of Quinoa
By Patty "Sassy" Knutson

QUINOA

Quinoa is one of those grains (well, actually an ancient seed!) that has been gaining in popularity in recent years.  I use quinoa in my cooking A LOT because it happens to be the grain with the highest amount of protein. 

When cooked, quinoa is fluffy yet retains a fun little crunch. It’s a fabulously versatile little food that contains more calcium than cow’s milk!  It can be used as a side dish on its own, mixed with all sorts of veggies for a delectable main dish, enjoyed as a warm breakfast cereal topped with syrup, even sprouted to make a deliciously light salad.

But there’s an even bigger reason to eat quinoa than just the insanely yummy flavor…

IT'S TIME FOR A NUTRITIONAL QUICKIE!   

The most dense nutrient you'll gain from quinoa is Manganese.  In fact, 1 cup of cooked quinoa provides nearly ½ the amount of manganese we need for the entire day!  Manganese is difficult to absorb, so the more you can get into your system, the better.

But how many times have you heard of a nutrient, but you have no clue what it is or what it does?

Manganese is required for p…