If you could take one food with you to a desert island, quinoa (KEEN-wah) would be your best option as it provides almost all of the body’s necessary nutrients. This grain-like crop is rich in protein and fiber and contains 20 different amino acids, including all nine that are essential to life. If you’ve never tried quinoa before, this recipe is an ideal introduction, recieving rave reviews from novice and skilled home cooks alike. Quinoa, known for its crisp, light texture and mild nutty flavor, is enhanced in this dish with peanut butter, giving it a bigger, bolder taste.

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked quinoa*, rinsed
2 cups water
1 Tbs. canola oil
2 medium potatoes, diced
1 small onion, chopped
2 large stalks celery, chopped
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 small zucchini, chopped
1 can (16 oz) corn, or pre-cooked fresh or frozen corn
2 Tbs. creole seasoning blend (or to taste)
2-3 Tbs. crunchy peanut butter

* Look for quinoa in the grain or bulk section of your local grocery store and/or see product section below.

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, bring two cups of water to a boil over medium-high heat; add quinoa, return to a boil, cover and reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until all water has been absorbed; set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat oil on medium heat; add potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are thoroughly cooked and slightly crispy.  
3. Add onion, celery, and bell pepper and cook until each is slightly soft.  
4. Add zucchini & corn and cook until zucchini is soft and corn is heated through.  
5. Season the vegetables to taste with creole blend and remove from heat.
6. Place peanut butter in a microwave-safe dish and heat just enough to soften it; add it to the quinoa and stir until thoroughly blended.  
7. Combine quinoa with the vegetables and mix well. Serves: 4-6.

For this and other fun veg recipes, visit www.VegWeb.com!

Eat right with Bob’s Red Mill organic grains. Dedicated to manufacturing natural foods in a natural way, Bob’s Red Mill offers an extensive line of whole grain foods. Using sophisticated flint-hard quartz millstones that are more than one hundred years-old, they stone grind grains into flours and meals.

If you don’t see Bob’s Red Mill Quinoa Organic Grain in your local grocery store, you can buy it online! As described on the website, quinoa grain is a high-protein grain cultivated by Incan tribes in the Andes Mountains of South America. Grown in Ecuador, this mild powerhouse grain is quickly becoming a staple in healthy diets and can be substituted for rice in most recipes.

Order Quinoa Organic Grain online at www.BobsRedMill.com!

Not all diet plans are equally heart-healthy, according to a recent study ranking eight popular weight-loss programs. Diets that emphasize a variety of fruits and vegetables scored better than those with a heavy protein focus.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School ranked daily meal plans and food recommendations in the Ornish Plan, the Zone Diet, Atkins, two Weight Watchers plans, the South Beach Diet, the New Glucose Revolution and the 2005 MyPyramid plan. The results were published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

The Ornish diet plan, which advocates a plant-based diet, came out on top with the most potential to prevent heart disease risk factors. The Atkins diet came in last, lagging behind the Zone and Weight Watchers. According to dietician Lona Sandon, a national spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, the take-home message for better heart health is to “focus more on fruits, vegetables and make all your grains whole grains, as well as limit intake of animal foods and fats."

To read the full article, click here!

Eight year-old Gabe demonstrates that age doesn’t matter when it comes to speaking out for the animals. Making the decision on his own to go vegetarian at the young age of 4, he has always been sensitive to the well-being of others. After finding out about the horrible treatment of animals in circuses, Gabe couldn’t keep quiet about the issue. He recently helped his Mom convince his school district to stop selling tickets to Ringling Bros. and was featured in PETA’s Animal Times for his efforts.

Gabe has set up exhibits in the library on circuses and factory farming. Most recently, he observed World Farm Animals Day in his school by distributing 85 WFAD handouts that explain the connection between animals we call pets and animals we call food. In honor of last year’s WFAD, he put up displays in the school library, gave a speech to his 2nd grade class, handed out a sheet on fun animal facts, and showed Farm Sanctuary’s video, “My Friends on the Farm.”

When asked why he does all of this, Gabe says, "The animals need my help because they're being eaten and they're being hurt...they have no power."

Find out more about the recent World Farm Animals Day at www.WFAD.org!

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