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

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20 comments

  1. I used to bike a ton – 100+ miles a week – but then my wife and I ended up moving 3 times in 2 years, and I got busy (and lazy!) and got out of the habit. Shame on me. Anyway, good post, tons of information. Nice way to use quinoa. Thanks for this.

  2. Thanks for the wonderful information what a delicious yet healthy meal – perfect after all that biking!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  3. That sounds like a healthy and delicious meal. Yum!

  4. Quinoa is one of my favorite but I have never bought the red one.
    It is a full nutritious meal combining with spinach and black bean corn salsa.

  5. Another fantastic creation from you!

  6. Now THAT is a power bowl! I didn’t realize they made red quinoa….something new to try!

  7. Spring must be in the air.. I’m seeing lots of healthy, quick summer dishes. Yours is so pretty and I love quinoa. I haven’t tried the red sort yet, it’s really colorful on your dish! xo Smidge

  8. Kitchen riffs you should pull your bike out again and take a spin, it feels great.

    Glad everyone likes this dish. It’s healthy and gives you the energy to make it through the day.

    If you can’t find the red quinoa at your grocery store don’t forget to check out Melissa’s website for a store near you.

  9. what a great dish! so many yummy healthy things in here!

  10. I love healthy recipes… I am all about that now… losing 22 pounds since christmas this is a great new addition for me thanks!

  11. I’ve not seen the red quinoa yet to try but I will look for it! I love the whole ‘biker’ meal 🙂

  12. I adore quinoa, and all of the ingredients you used here are right up my alley. This sounds so perfect to me!

  13. I miss biking ! Haven’t ride a bike for a long time pffttt ! I love the look of your salad ! It looks both both delicious and incredibly healthy !

  14. Claudia wow that’s great you’ve lost all that weight. As for the biking, for those of you that haven’t biked in a while it’s time to get back on the saddle and go for a ride. It’s not just great exercise but it makes you feel good.

    Hope you all try the red quinoa and my PowerBowl!

  15. What an amazing salad, Vicki!!! I love all the layers of flavor. I seriously could eat this every day for a week and never tire of it.

    PS…I’m having a heck of a time keeping up! I must appear more capable than I really am…LOL. You’re so sweet to ask…if you could only see my foodbuzz inbox…oh, my.

  16. This is one fabulous post. I love the idea of a power meal. I could use more of that in my life.

    Thanks so much for the lovely comment on the post about my father. I really appreciated it.

  17. I’m a bit embarrassed to say, but I didn’t know there was such a thing as a red quinoa…great to know something new 🙂

  18. I know Lizzy I could eat this all the time as well. It’s a feel good, dish.

    Kim Bee thanks for your post and your own post. Dads and Moms are the best!

    Gourmantine don’t be embarrassed, it’s hard to keep up with all the changes in food. I have tried 3 varieties of quinoa – red, black and tan. There are probably more but that’s all I’ve tried.

    Thanks for your posts.

  19. What a healthy and delicious meal! I love the meal that makes you feel good at the end (not feeling regret or bloated…). I have a lot of biker friends. They are crazy…rain or sunny they love biking. It’s a great exercise though something I should be doing than sitting in front of computer. Haha. =P

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