Quinoa for Breakfast: Alternative to Oatmeal

Here is one of my favorite breakfast meals. You can make a large pot at the beginning of the week and warm it daily for a quick healthy breakfast. It is gluten free and dairy free. The Quinoa is a good source of protein that keeps you satisfied much longer than a bowl of oatmeal. Use this recipe as a guideline but you can add and remove anything to your liking Quinoa Breakfast: Nourishes Qi and Blood, Strengthens Spleen, Encourages production of fluids 1 cup Quinoa (washed) slightly less than 2 cups of water handful of cranberries, currants or dates handful of crushed Walnuts, Almonds or Cashews The juice from one orange and zest of the orange 1 tbs of agave nectar, honey or maple syrup Almond or Coconut milk

Wash one cup of Quinoa thoroughly. This will avoid a bitter taste. As the quinoa remains quite wet, you don't need to use a full 2 cups but just under, about 1 3/4 cups of water. Place 1 cup of quinoa and 1 3/4 cups of water in pot, cover and bring to a boil. Do not remove lid while cooking. Once Quinoa has opened up and water has been absorbed it is done, approximately 15 minutes.  When Quinoa is finished, squeeze orange juice, add nuts, cranberries, whichever sweetener you have chosen and add milk to consistency of your liking. Enjoy!

Benefits according to Traditional Chinese Medicine: Quinoa: sweet and warming, Tonifies Qi, strengthens spleen, warms yang, relieves internal coldness good source of Vitamin E which helps keep blood “slippery” and flowing, which therefore reduces blood stagnation and clotting. It is also rich in protein and iron. Walnuts: slightly warm and sweet, tonifies kidney, aids erratic or rebellious Qi almonds are also a good source of Vitamin E. Orange: strengthens spleen, promotes body fluids. Good for stagnant Qi. Agave nectar/honey: natural sweetner very similar to honey except lower on glycemic index which makes this a great substitute. Neutral, sweet, nourishes yin, lubricates dryness, tonifies weakness, harmonizes, strengthens spleen.