"Cheezy" Quinoa Bowl

Winner winner-- Quinoa dinner!

This recipe is so insanely good! I was craving a healthy lunch yesterday, and this just so happened to pop out of my imagination.  It's so good that my grandmother wouldn't believe me when I told her that all of the ingredients were totally vegan, and totally healthy.

Here is a little spotlight for the nutritional powerhouses that star in this dish!

Quinoa

• Like meat, quinoa is a complete protein-- which is great news for the vegetarians and vegans of the world. Plants have amino acids (the building blocks of protein). That's one of the reasons that it is important to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables-- because different plants have different amino acids, that can form complete proteins. Luckily quinoa already does that for you! 
• It has so much fiber that your intestines will flow freely with gratitude. 
• Another plus for the vegans, vegetarians, and diabetics-- one cup of this grain has 15% of your daily iron value, and 29% of your magnesium value. Magnesium stabilizes blood sugar levels, and relaxes the blood vessels (keeping you healthy AND reducing inflammation). 

Turmeric

• Due to it's anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric (if consumed regularly) can lower your risk for onset Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, and asthma.
• Several recent studies have found that turmeric can induce apoptosis, a process that triggers the self-destruction and elimination of damaged (cancerous) cells. Further research is still required before the full effects of turmeric on cancer cells can be determined. However, existing studies suggest that daily turmeric powder or supplements combined with a balanced, nutritious diet may help prevent or even destroy cancer cells. 
• Hey all of you diabetics out there-- eat more turmeric! The antioxidant agents in turmeric can help lower your insulin resistance.

Nutritional Yeast

Fun story: My mother's parents had a cat named Edgar. He died about two years ago, living to be almost twenty! I remember when I was a little kid, I always saw them sprinkling some weird flakey, yellow, cheesy smelling stuff on his cat food. I never knew what it was until I started being more knowledgeable about health. I discovered this superfood called "nutritional yeast"! Now all of a sudden, I am eating this weird flakey yellow stuff on my popcorn, salads, and quinoa dishes! 

• Six grams of protein per two tablespoons.
• Dense in minerals.
• A vegan's miracle food, since it has a "cheesy" flavor, and can resemble gas station nacho cheese when mixed with a bit of water.
• Again, a vegan's savior due to it's vitamin B12 content! Vitamin B12 is usually found in animal products-- but vegan's need it too because it helps stabilize thyroid function, gives you energy, and builds the immune system (to name a few functions). 
• Gluten free, and salt free.

But what exactly is nutritional yeast?  

Nutritional Yeast is a deactivated yeast (not to be confused with Brewer's yeast, which has a completely different taste and purpose).  Nutritional yeast is a living microorganism grown on sugarcane and beet molasses.  When the yeast is ready, it is killed (deactivated) with heat and then harvested, washed, dried and packaged. 

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Now on to the recipe!!

"Cheezy" Quinoa Bowl

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• Half of a large avocado
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• A few pinches of salt
• Some pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped roasted almonds
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh garlic
• Four tablespoons nutritional yeast

1. Add 1 cup quinoa and 2 cups water to a pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, put heat on low for about 20 minutes, or until water is gone. Set quinoa aside once done.
2. Halve and avocado and cut into small pieces. Then add to quinoa.
3. Add salt, pepper, turmeric, garlic, almonds, and nutritional yeast to quinoa.
4. Mix well, and add salt or pepper to taste.
5. Serve!
6. Keep in mind that you can add anything to this recipe-- some yummy options would be cooked spinach, chopped and cooked zucchini, cooked carrots, etc...

Enjoy!