Quinoa for Lunch: A Mother’s Secret Weapon
Having and raising kids is a challenge in itself; but making them love healthy foods is the greater challenge of the two. Youngsters, now a days are very selective when it comes to food. They always go for foods that look presentable and of course that tastes super good; and good usually means those sweet but unhealthy delights. That is why proper guidance must be undertaken by moms to ensure that the kids get enough nutrition. It takes a little bit of extra effort to look for ways and means to entice the little ones to appreciate healthy foods. Lunch time is definitely a challenging meal for moms. It is like playing a tug of war game with the kids. But moms need not worry, as a new lunch alternative has come to make noon time meals a more stress-free and easy time for all.
Quinoa for Lunch
Introducing, Quinoa a great alternative for rice and the common cereals. It is a seed that looks like a grain which comes in different and attractive varieties of color. Because of its fluffy appearance when cooked, it a pretty surprise for the little ones. Interestingly it also has a crunchy texture and a nutty flavor that would surely make kids love it.
Quinoa Benefits for Kids
Quinoa is definitely a winning lunch meal for kids because of its impressive nutritional content. It boasts of numerous vitamins and minerals that are essential for active and growing kids. Among the various benefits of eating this grain is its high lysine content. This amino acid is good for the immune system as it helps in developing anti-bodies that could fight various diseases. This is very important especially With children who can use the extra protection from getting sick or from acquiring transmittable diseases especially in crowded places like in day care or in schools. This protein-rich grain can also help the growth of youngsters as it enables the speedy production of cells that are the “building blocks” of the body. It also provides an ample amount of magnesium and iron that could assist kids to have the needed energy and vitality for all those afternoon activities. Another exceptional attribute of this grain is its being gluten-free. This paves way for an easier and a better digestion process which is very beneficial to children.
Quinoa Lunch Recipe
There are various ways of cooking quinoa; but as mothers it is important to understand that it is never wrong to serve foods that are traditionally loved by children. The secret is just to make a little twist in the ingredients being used. A perfect recipe for lunch is the Tuna and Quinoa Patty.
Tuna and Quinoa Patty
Ingredients: You need a can of tomato sauce, 1 cup cooked quinoa, ½ cup of bread crumbs, ½ cup of flaked tuna (can be any other fish of your choice), 3 pieces of diced sausage, ¼ cup of thinly sliced onions and 1 egg which is already well beaten.
Instructions: Combine all the ingredients except the bread crumbs and beaten egg. Season the mixture with salt and pepper, depending upon the desired taste. After thoroughly mixing, form a spoonful of the mixture into a patty. Dip the patties in the egg, then coat with the bread crumbs; lastly, fry over low heat until cooked.
With this quinoa enhanced recipe, the kids would not just love to eat lunch; but would also have the needed nutrients for their growth and development. Healthy kids would mean a happier and contented mom.
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