Breakfast Quinoa

Yield: 4 servings | Prep: 20 mins. | Ready In: 20 mins.

What you need:

1 cup dry quinoa

1 1/2 cups water

1 teaspoon cinnamon

(+ more to sprinkle)

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/4 cup golden raisins

1 cup warmed milk

1 Gala apple, peeled and diced 1/4 cup pecans, chopped Vanilla Greek yogurt

What you do:

1. Combine quinoa, water, cinnamon and vanilla in saucepan; bring to a boil. 2. Reduce heat to simmer; cover and cook 15 minutes.

3. Mix in applesauce and raisins; drizzle with warmed milk to desired consistency, 4. Top with apples, pecans and a sprinkle of cinnamon. If desired, add a dollop of vanilla Greek yogurt to each serving.

Why we love it:

Eating breakfast every morning will kick-start your day in the right direction, leaving you feeling nourished, satisfied and energized! Your body needs that early boost of energy from breakfast after an all-night fast. Breakfast offers a good source of key vitamins and minerals and helps curb your hunger the rest of the day (so you don’t eat more unhealthy snack foods).

Your best bet is a mix of foods that have carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats and fiber. Quinoa is a great whole grain to consider for breakfast as it is naturally a good source of complex carbohydrate, iron and other minerals, antioxidants and the B-vitamins. It is also one of only a few plant foods that are considered a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. For an easy breakfast, start with a bowl of cooked quinoa, then: • Add natural sweetness with fruits. • Spice it up with cinnamon and vanilla. • Top with nuts and seeds. • Pour on milk.