Nutrient Packed Quinoa & Greens Breakfast Bowl

For weight loss, high nutrient content and absorption, along with a low glycemic load, this quinoa dish hits the spot. Quinoa is a good grain-like seed (pseudocereal seed, actually) that can help you keep your protein levels up and gluten and starches low. Greens and hemp nuts are packed with so many good nutrients in addition to protein. They are high in essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Healthy fats help to absorb the nutrients and are easier on your liver. Here’s the recipe:

1/2 cup cooked quinoa

1 tsp. unrefined coconut oil plus 3 tbsp water

1/2 cup lightly steamed or boiled chopped collards (don’t cook too long)

1 tbsp hemp nuts

1 tbsp ground flaxseed

1 tsp ceylon cinnamon

Cook the quinoa until fluffy; set aside. Heat 1 teaspoon of coconut oil in pot along with 3 tablespoons of water and lightly steam/sauté chopped collards. Place quinoa in a bowl and top with the collards; then sprinkle in the hemp nuts, flaxseed, and cinnamon. Mix, eat and enjoy.

294 calories

11.5g fat (remember, though–it’s the good fats)

43 mg sodium

34 carbs (the good carbs–don’t freak out)

11 g protein (yippee)

13 g fiber (yippee)

.5 g sugar (yippee)

The coconut oil and flaxseed fats are healthy fats, which will help your body to assimilate the nutrients to all the right places and help with weight loss. It can also satisfy  your hunger until your next meal. Cinnamon helps to regulate your blood sugar, helps reduce cholesterol, and helps reduce arthritic pain. Wow–that’s good, right? Hemp seeds/nuts contain 20 amino acids and all nine of the essential ones your body can’t make on its own. Hemp protein is more easily digested and has the perfect omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio. Flaxseed is high in omega-3’s, ALA, and has lignins that can help with intestinal functioning and female hormones.

If you find this dish not sweet enough for you, you can sip on some peach or other tropical, naturally sweet tasting hot tea. I actually had 6 oz of strawberry coconut kefir. That did the trick for me, and it was a good combination for breakfast.