OK for those of you who do my Boot Camp classes you know that we start each class with the "circle of love" a.k.a. question of the day...but it seems as of late, our circle of love has turned into confessions of a Paleo dieter! Which for me is so true...after Saturdays WOD and hanging out with the kids all day, I was exhausted...so much so that I had a 3 hour nap in the late afternoon. I woke up starving and headed for Subway! Yes I inhaled a foot long sub and it was marvelous, two hours later I was back in bed and slept right through to the next day! So, I've been doing some research and it seems that most people doing the Paleo diet, have a cheat day...we discussed this in last nights class. I'm a fan for this but I find it can be a slippery slope and can be taken too far. You don't want to consume a weeks worth of calories in one day. So, I say YES to the CHEAT MEAL! (I feel like a politician, vote for me, as I say YES to a cheat meal). Choose a day that you can look forward to all week. I think that one cheat meal is worth it, if it keeps your sanity and keeps you eating clean for the rest of the week, then I say go for it. Some of you may disagree and think that this is setting you up for failure before you've even started...I think your big boys and girls and can make smart choices about having things in moderation. Do what works for you, if you're an all or nothing kinda person, then stay on track and rock on my friends!
Above is a picture of a Quinoa plant which then brings us to the great debate ...Is Quinoa Paleo Friendly? I'm asked this so many times and there is so much information out there for both sides of the fence...so I'll let you choose!
What is Quinoa? Quinoa (pronounced “keenwah”) is a seed that is harvested from a species of a plant called goosefoot. It is officially a seed, which is part of a group of pseudocereals, making it neither cereal nor grain, and more closely related to spinach and beets.
It is because of this unusual categorization from the typical groups of foods that many people are confused as to what quinoa actually is and how it affects the health of people who eat it regularly. Essentially, a person could read 10 different articles about quinoa and get nearly as many different theories about it and where it belongs in a healthy diet.
How Does Quinoa Fit In The Paleo Diet?
Quinoa is technically not a grain, which makes many people jump to the immediate conclusion that it is paleo. It is a seed, and many other seeds are allowed, so why not quinoa?
This is a good point, and for those looking for a grain alternative that has much less potential for damage than regular grains, quinoa is often a good choice. With that being said, quinoa actually does contain some of the same potentially harmful properties of grains, as is explained next.
How Doesn’t Quinoa Fit In The Paleo Diet?
Wheat products are avoided in the paleo diet because they need to be heavily processed to be consumed, which goes against the very basis of the paleo way of thinking and eating.
Beyond that, they are avoided because they contain gluten, saponins and lectins, among other anti-nutrients, which have been shown to be harmful to the lining of a person’s digestive system as well as their immune system.
The Verdict
So, quinoa, while it might technically be gluten free and paleo friendly, does still possess some of the adverse affects of grains that a paleo diet strictly avoids. Essentially, it’s ok in principle, but not as ok in practice. If you follow a paleo diet plan, it simply comes down to a personal choice of whether or not you enjoy quinoa, and whether or not you are concerned about its possible negative effects on your digestive system.
If you do choose to eat quinoa, it is generally a good idea to wash it thoroughly, as its outer coating is responsible for some of its wheat like properties.
So there you have it, our best shot at the question of whether or not quinoa is paleo. There are, and probably always will be endless debates on this subject.
So with that, I give you Kristen's Grilled Vegetable Quinoa Salad! I have to say this was amazing, Kristen brought me some to sample...sooo good!
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 mL) quinoa
- 1 sweet red pepper, quartered
- 1 sweet yellow pepper, quartered
- 1 zucchini, cut lengthwise in 1/2-inch thick strips
- 12 asparagus spears, trimmed
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) Light feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) toasted pumpkin seeds
- 3 tbsp (45 mL) chopped fresh cilantro Chipotle Vinaigrette:
- 3 tbsp (45 mL) olive oil
- 2 tbsp (30 mL) red wine vinegar
- 1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced
- 2 tsp (10 mL) liquid honey
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) pepper
Preparation
Soak quinoa in cold water for 3 minutes; drain in sieve. In saucepan, bring 1-1/2 cups salted water to boil; stir in quinoa and return to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until no liquid remains, 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and fluff with fork; cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Spread on small tray and let cool for 10 minutes.
Chipotle Vinaigrette: Meanwhile, whisk together oil, vinegar, chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, honey, cumin, salt and pepper. Set aside.
In large bowl, toss together red and yellow peppers, zucchini, asparagus and 3 tbsp of the vinaigrette until coated. Place on greased grill over medium heat; close lid and grill until charred and tender, 4 to 6 minutes for asparagus, 10 to 12 minutes for peppers and zucchini. Cut into large chunks and return to bowl.
Add remaining dressing, quinoa, half of the feta cheese, the pumpkin seeds and cilantro; stir until incorporated. Sprinkle with remaining feta. Serve immediately.
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