Super PowerBowl!

My husband bikes A LOT even during the winter, so when summer comes and we head to the mountains he's ready to hit the hills and the biking events.  This Saturday he decided to enter a biking event about an hour from here that would take him into the hills of the wine country of Missouri.  With temperatures forecast to hit the 90s I decided to make a PowerBowl for dinner on Friday, so he'd have lots of good energy come early Saturday morning.

Thanks to Melissa's Produce for sending me the 100% Certified Organic Red Quinoa packed with 6 grams of protein, 28 grams of Carbohydrates and 2.5 grams of fat to make our meal complete.  In fact did you know:

Quinoa has been called the Complete Protein Nutrient Powerhouse because it's packed with all 8 essential amino acids, plus vitamins and minerals. In addition its:

• high in potassium which helps control blood pressure
• wheat and gluten free which is great for those suffering with celiac disease or wheat allergies
• low on the glycemic index, which means it won't spike blood sugar levels because it enters our bodies at an even rate keeping us full longer
• high in fiber
• has a light fluffy texture and nutty flavor which makes this incredible grain delicious as well.

Adding Quinoa to our dinner on Friday was a great choice in lieu of what was in store for my husband Saturday morning.

Before a race or strenuous activity it's important to have CARBOHYDRATES - which is the bodies main source of fuel, PROTEIN - that helps rebuild muscle tissue that's been broken down or damaged during exercise, FAT - that allows your body to sustain it's basic functions, WATER - to stay hydrated during exercise since the body loses water through sweat. Among other reasons. 

For greater detail on this topic visit Livestrong, a great site for healthy living.

In addition to the quinoa, that I cooked according to the package directions, our dinner plates consisted of:

Bed of Raw Spinach, rinsed and spun dry
Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - lightly seasoned with canola oil, lemon juice, salt & pepper - sliced after grilling ( 4oz. piece = 26.7 grams of protein, 3.1 grams of fat and No Carbs.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa - click here for the recipe
1 Tablespoon Fresh Squeezed Lemon
3 Tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper to taste

You don't have to be running a marathon or biking an event to have my PowerBowl.  This dish regardless, will provide you with energy to sustain you through the day and evening leaving you feeling full and nourished.

In fact, what's great about my PowerBowl is all the ingredients can be prepared in advance and kept refrigerated until ready to assemble - making it perfect to bring to work for lunch, if you've been running all day only to come home with little or no time to cook or for your family to gather quickly on their own.  Just open the refrigerator and toss together this light, healthy nutritious meal.

Use a simple dressing, your own favorite or no dressing at all.  It's that good. 

Enjoy!

Other dishes I've made using quinoa that you might enjoy are:

Black Quinoa Asian Slaw
Quinoa with Roasted Vegetables
Grilled Swordfish Kebobs with Black Bean, Corn and Quinoa Salad