Welcome to our series: the Superpowers of Superfoods. First up, we’re talking about Quinoa. Say it with us: keen-wah.
Quinoa is a popular “superfood.” A superfood isn't a scientific classification but is a commonly used term that basically means that a food has high nutrient density. While we do think that the fruits, vegetables, and grains known as superfoods really do pack a punch, we’ll leave the superpowers to your kiddo’s imagination.
Quinoa’s Origin Story
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... just kidding, sorta. Quinoa really has been cultivated for thousands of years and is indigenous to the South American Andes region. The part we eat are actually the seeds of a plant by the same name, from the Amaranthaceae family. It’s classified as a whole grain, meaning it has maintained higher nutritional content than if it were broken down into parts.In recent years, quinoa has picked up a ton of good press and gained popularity for its nutritional content. Keep reading to see why!
The Superpowers of Quinoa
Quinoa is our plant-based protein hero because it’s a “complete protein,” meaning it contains all 9 amino acids that the body can’t make on its own. On average, one cup of cooked quinoa contains 8 grams of protein, plus 5 grams of fiber! It’s also a source of micronutrients like iron, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, folate, and thiamine.
Quinoa to the rescue!
When formulating Sprout Organics recipes, quinoa helps provide protein, fiber, and micronutrients while staying totally plant-based. Check out this Protein Butternut, Chickpea, Quinoa pouch for little sprouts 8 months and up. Toddlers can dig into this Baby Burrito Bowl. Have big kids in the house? Try our new Quinoa Veggie Bowl for kids 4+ years.
Citations
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/quinoa/
https://www.britannica.com/plant/quinoa
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/274745
