17 Quinoa Your “get bikini-ready” best friend! Maybe it’s just wishful thinking but I am dreaming of the warm summer weather, wearing less than five layers and maybe even wearing a bathing suit. A lot of my coaching clients get a little less enthusiastic about that last one, so we do a lot of bikini prep this time of the year and I wanted to let you in on what I call my “secret weapon” – QUINOA! It is a vegetarian or vegan’s BFF, and it can be yours too. Quinoa has been called a “SUPER FOOD” because it contains a lot of protein, iron, magnesium and calcium. Oh and best yet – it’s gluten free! It’s a great way to ease off your white carbs and ease onto stuff way better for your body and easier for your stomach to digest. Switch out pasta for it at dinner, make a big batch of it with yummy veggies to take for lunch and I even make it as an oatmeal substitute for breakfast. Here are three of my go-to quinoa recipes to help you incorporate into your diet and use it as a valuable tool in your summer slim down journey! For even MORE delicious quinoa recipes, check out www.GoSweetandSkinny.com. If you are really ready to take some serious action and transform your body and health for the summer, email me at [email protected] for a free 30 minute breakthrough session and we can talk about how working together can help you accomplish your health and wellness goals! WHITE TRUFFLE OIL QUINOA 1/2 bag of baby spinach 1/4 cup of quinoa 1/2 cup of water 2 tbsp of White Truffle Oil 5 or 6 of your favorite mushroom Put your quinoa and water in a saucepan on the stove and boil. Keep mixing around the quinoa until water eventually dissolves, once your pan is just quinoa, turn off the burner. In a separate frying pan, drizzle 1 tbsp of white truffle oil and add your baby spinach and chopped mushrooms. Sautee for a little until the spinach has wilted a bit. Now, mix in your cooked quinoa and let it cook for a few more minutes before adding a final tbsp of White Truffle oil to the mix and then serve. FALL- INSPIRED QUINOA ‘OATMEAL’ Hey, I know it’s not fall but I am forever obsessed with fall flavors and this recipe was too good not to share! 1/2 cup quinoa 1/2 cup almond milk 1 tbsp brown sugar 1/3 cup organic pumpkin purée Heat together in small saucepan on medium heat till quinoa has cooked and liquid has reduced. Garnish: 3 tbsp crushed walnuts 2 tbsp of dried cranberries MEXICAN QUINOA DELIGHT (DINNER) I use tofu in this recipe because I’m not a meat eater, but feel free to substitute the tofu with grilled chicken or your favorite lean protein! 1/4 cup of quinoa 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup black beans Tofu (I used a slice about the size of a chalkboard eraser and 1/4 inch thick) Adobo seasoning 2 tbsp of Olive Oil 2 tbsp of chopped garlic For the guacamole: 1 avocado 1/2 lime (for juice) 1 tbsp of chopped tomatoes 1 1/2 tbsp of chopped onions two pinches of salt Put the water and quinoa in a pot and boil it until all the water evaporates and you’re just mixing quinoa. Then, add your black beans and fold them into the quinoa until they’re heated up. In a separate frying pan add your olive oil and garlic on low heat. Add your favorite lean protein to the pan and sprinkle with the adobo seasoning. Now for the guacamole -- in a separate bowl cut the avocado in half and then cut it down and across a few times, take your knife around the skin until all the avocado falls out into your bowl. Add your chopped tomatoes and onions, sprinkle with salt and squeeze your lime. Now just finish it up by folding all the ingredients together! Then take the quinoa and beans and place it down on the plate first, topping it with the sautéed protein and finishing it off with a nice scoop of the guacamole! It is a vegan Mexican masterpiece! (If you’re cooking for two, just double ingredients.) Simple and delicious! Enjoy! Cassandra Bodzak is the happy, healthy living guru on ABC’s “The Taste” and she will be writing a monthly column for LIC Courier. She started GoSweetandSkinny.com, where she shares her healthy recipes and tips for living your happiest life, and is the proud author of “Juicespiration,” her no-nonsense guide to do-it-yourself juice cleansing. She works with clients all over the U.S. to help them stop dieting, start eating right and achieve the body and life they love! CASSANDRA BODZAK health
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