Whole Grain Goodness

I love whole grains.

Oatmeal. Brown rice. Quinoa. Wheatberries. Bulgur. Whole wheat pasta. Barley.

Each one has it’s own character and qualities, and I love each one for different reasons.

Wheatberries for their chew.

Oats for their creaminess.

Quinoa for the protein and funny shape.

Bulgur for its fluff.

I love grains so much that I have them with almost every meal, including today’s choices.

Oatmeal – one of the fastest and most satisfying breakfasts I know.

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The mix:

  • 1/2 cup oatmeal
  • 1 cup water
  • pinch salt
  • cinnamon
  • 1/2 banana
  • 1/2 peach
  • 1 Tbsp almond butter

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And lunch today features quinoa, my latest whole grain craze. I guess I tend to go through phases with grains, and right now, it’s a quinoa phase.

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Our church had a potluck this weekend, so I threw together this quinoa salad to share. I’m happy I ended up with leftovers – it’s been a great lunch option the past couple of days!

Southwest Quinoa Salad

  • 3 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1/2 cup scallions, sliced
  • 1.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 1.5 tsp chile powder
  • 1.5 tsp cumin
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Cook quinoa (on stove top or in microwave) and mix together with the rest of the ingredients. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours over to let the flavors develop. Serve cold, room temperature, or warm.

I brought the last of my quinoa salad for lunch today, along with some more locally grown chocolate cherry tomatoes and 1/2 an avocado.

 

What are your favorite whole grains?

12 comments

  1. I admit, I’ve never really gotten on board with quinoa. But I think I’ve just never cooked it properly or something. This salad does sound quite yummy!

  2. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite whole grain. Like you, I like different ones for different reasons. But I start pretty much every day with oatmeal. And I have some leftover quinoa in the fridge; I think I’ll try to recreate your salad!

  3. I love quinoa! But I did just get a harvest grains mix from Trader Joe’s that has coucous, quinoa, orzo and chickpeas in it. Trying it today for the first time!

  4. This post made me laugh because it was just a case in point of how long I have been in Africa–when I left, I just knew that brown bread was supposed to be better for you. Now I can´t wait to try all these! I have oats for breakfast almost every morning but the other stuff I have never had.

    PS CONGRATS ON BEING PUBLISHED!!! I am so proud of and excited for you and I hope I can follow my same dream too someday! You rock!

  5. I love whole grains. Oatmeal, wholewheat pasta, quinoa. I love making salads from grains. LOVE IT. But I really love a good hearty plate of pasta or bowl of cereal too. Versatility is probably my favourite thing about grains. After their nuttiness.

  6. Your salad looks really good. I love quinoa but always seem to forget about it when I’m grocery shopping. It seems like it would make a good staple. I love oats and oat bran – have one or the other for breakfast most mornings! :)

  7. My favorite grain is by far oatmeal- have it every single day in some form. Oh, and cereal..does cereal count? ;)

  8. Can’t beat oatmeal for me! I’m not too familiar with quinoa yet. Think I should get on that.

  9. My favorite(and pretty much only) whole grain is oatmeal. It’s just so delicious, even raw! Quinoa is so confusing. It’s technically a seed with “grain like qualities” whatever that means.

  10. I love all grains, except Kasha (yuck). Oats are my favorite and I eat them at least once a day. I love brown rice and millet too, I cook with them all the time.

  11. Yum! That looks great! I’m always looking for new recipes for grains.
    I’m lovin’ on my oatbran right now.. so good! I also love quinoa too and am so curious to try wheatberries!

  12. Pingback: How to cut out sugar while still eating healthy? | advanced-nutrients

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