Need some advice!

Hey Everyone, 

I have been researching Quinoa recently.  Prior I thought it was more a flour replacement, which it is, but it is also gluten free and has lots of amino acids, yielding it high in protein and it also comes in flakes. Would this be something I could eat in weight loss mode or do I need to save it for maintenance.  I deal with so many food sensitivities and have been having a difficult time getting all my protein in I thought this may be a good option.  I have never tried it so I'm not sure I will like it, plus I think it may be somewhat pricey.  I don't even want to get it if it will make me crave carbs, but all that I have read say it is low on the glycemic index.  Have any of you tried it, what do you think?

thanks in advance,

Smiles:),

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

Only you can make the decision, but I did look up the nutritional content in MyFitnessPal.  1/2 cup cook quinoa has only 4 g. of protein and 21 g. of carbs for 120 calories.  Wouldn't get me very far to the 80 grams protein goal for the day.

I'm going to save it for maintenance myself!

Thanks for looking that up there! I keep forgetting to do that! Great points, I appreciate your response!

I've been eating quinoa for years and love it.  Whether or not you want to eat it in your losing phase would depend on how many carbs you want to include in your diet.  I have found that eating grains and seeds adds too many carbs to my diet and stalls my weight loss.  That is not true for everyone.  The only way you'll know if it causes carb cravings for you is to try it for yourself.

Jane

Well I am glad it is an option.  I like the fact that it has protein, although a lot less then I thought, it does seem to have a lot more nutritional value then other grains. I will need to think some more, I don't want to stall my weight loss that's for sure.  I am still eating mostly protein, some veggies and a small amount of fruit.  Thanks for responding! I just don't have a whole lot of room to eat more then my protein and water.  Does it expand like rice in your tummy ?  Thanks!

lisa

I don't recall it expanding in my stomach like rice.  It's a whole seed, and it's usually prepared mixed with vegetables either hot in a pilaf or cold as a veggie salad.

Jane

I personally decided to postpone quinoa until I've been in maintenance for a while due to the carbs.  Yes, it has protein, but the lean, dense proteins are much better sources for that.

And yes, to me it's expensive as well.  :)

Thanks for responding.  It sounds like maintenance will be a better option for it.  I will be curious to try it then.  It seems to have good nutrition.  Price is always a concern, my meat bill alone has gone up substantially, I don't have to eat as much but still...I wish someone would come out with protein portions for bariatric patients.  I wish we had a trader joes here in idaho!  

Lisa

What part of Idaho?  If you're near Coeur d'Alene, you could go to the trader joe's in Spokane.

In Emmett, near Boise!  I wish we were closer!  We are supposed to be getting one sometime next year!