The Mother of All Grains for a Gluten-Free, Rice Alternative

I don’t know about you, but all this news about arsenic in rice is a bummer for this gluten-free green diva! I LOVE rice, and it is the basis of most of the grain alternatives I’ve turned to to avoid gluten – ugh. Now, I realize that not ALL rice is laden with arsenic, but this is all a good lesson in not relying heavily on any one type of grain or food too heavily – moderation and variety are probably always key to balancing out some of the harmful effects of any one food.

In the fall and winter months, our family has become attached to our pot of brown rice pilaf that I make every week. My standard brown rice pilaf is eaten on its own, mixed with other soups or stews and obviously goes as a side dish with many meal menus. So, what’s a green diva (or dude) to do? I’ve turned to the highly-acclaimed, super food known by the Incas as the mother of all grains – quinoa. Check out my quinoa pilaf recipe.

I’m not sure why, but I have resisted quinoa. I think I have an automatic skepticism of any super foods and tend to wait and see what shakes out after the initial media frenzy over any new, super or miracle cure foods. Ok, so this makes me late to the party sometimes, but I’m guessing I’m not the only one still warming up to the many benefits of yummy quinoa . . .

Quinoa 101

The Year of Quinoa – the United Nations has declaired 2013 the International Year of Quinoa.
Mama Quinoa was not only a staple food for the Incas and other South American Indians in the Andes, but it was a sacred grain referred to as chisaya mama or the mother of all grains.
Not a Conquistador Favorite - The Spanish conquistadors who disrupted the indigenous people’s lives in the 16th century, felt that quinoa wasn’t a good christian grain – the sacred aspect of it perhaps threatened the conquistadors.
Quinoa is a seed and is a member of the goosefoot or chenopod family. It is also related to beet, spinach and tumbleweed species.
Quinoa leaves are edible, if you can find them.
Protein powerhouse – Quinoa contains all 8 of the essential amino acids and is considered a complete protein. One cup of quinoa has more protein than an egg, and has more protein than most grains and is a great vegan source of protein.
Mental & mood booster - mama quinoa is high in iron and B vitamins, which are great for keeping the mind sharp and the moods boosted
Plant-based calcium source – quinoa is an excellent source of calcium and especially good for vegans
Out of this world – because of it’s many nutritional qualities, NASA is considering quinoa as a crop for Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems, which are designed to help sustain life in space stations.
Not for the birds – the smart quinoa plant developed an outer coating on the seed shell that contains nasty tasting saponins to the birds from eating them. Most quinoa marketed in North America has already been processed to remove the bitter tasting saponins, but it recommended to rinse your quinoa well to remove any residue, just in case.

Green Diva Meg’s quinoa pilaf recipe

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Terry V.

2:07PM PDT on Oct 21, 2012

noted

October 21
send a green star

Kathleen Marie C.

2:41PM PDT on Oct 20, 2012

Thank you for the push to finally try quinoa- I am gluten free (Celiac's, candida damage, etc) and also was stuck in the rice rut (believe me I am grateful for rice- but variety IS the spice of life!). After suffering for so long, it is hard to try new things since I have finally found a working solution. Another reason to love Care2!

October 20
send a green star

Karen M.

4:18AM PDT on Oct 17, 2012

My family love quinoa! It is a bit expensive, but when compared to a pound of meat, quinoa is a great deal--and more versatile. Thanks for the recipe!

October 17
send a green star

Nils Anders L.

1:14AM PDT on Oct 17, 2012

Thanks

Dana W.

12:58AM PDT on Oct 17, 2012

I like quinoa when I've had it but it is kind of expensive to buy.

Bill E.

10:57AM PDT on Oct 15, 2012

Oats are cheaper, more abundant and really good for everyone.

October 15
send a green star

Susan S.

7:23AM PDT on Oct 15, 2012

Love it. Lots of ways to eat it, from breakfast to bedtime snack.

John D.

3:59AM PDT on Oct 15, 2012

I like quinoa, but guess what? You could find arsenic in it, too! And in potatoes. And onions. Arsenic is a natural part of the Earth's crust, and any food grown in soil will have traces of it. None of the recent "revelations" about rice are really new. Granted, arsenic is toxic, but none of the new findings have shown dangerous levels of arsenic. Just another example of the media blowing a single story way out of proportion, causing everyone to panic. I'm reminded of a story I read about the scientist Lavoisier - a woman was on trial, accused of poisoning her husband. Lavoisier developed a test to detect arsenic, and found it in the dead man's body. the woman was convicted. Then, Lavoisier tested himself. He found arsenic. He tested the king. And found arsenic. The woman was freed. The moral? The more sensitive the test, the more irrelevant results you will find.

Manuela C.

2:24AM PDT on Oct 15, 2012

Love quinoa!

Samir N.

1:15AM PDT on Oct 15, 2012

Important information I did not know previously,.Is it true that grain crust is useful more than grain itself ?Thank you very much for this article .