High in protein, fiber, and potassium, quinoa offers plenty of healthy reasons to chow down. But if you enjoy quinoa in the same way all the time, the nutrient-packed food can lose its luster. Whether you're craving a savory meal or a sweet snack, check out these calorie-conscious topping combinations to help you fall in love with quinoa all over again.
Related: 20 Creative Quinoa Dishes You Won't Get Sick Of [1]
Go Savory
- Italian "pasta" bowl: 1 cup cooked quinoa (222 calories [2]) + 1/4 cup tomato sauce (15 calories [3]) + 1 cup cooked mushrooms (28 calories [4]) + 1/2 cup boiled carrots (27 calories [5]) = 292 calories
- Greek salad bowl: 1 cup cooked quinoa (222 calories) + 12 artichoke hearts (90 calories [6]) + 1/2 cup cucumber slices (8 calories [7]) + 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (10 calories [8]) = 330 calories
- Bagel bowl: 3/4 cup cooked quinoa (167 calories [9]) + 4 ounces smoked salmon (133 calories [10]) + 1/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt (33 calories [11]) + 2 teaspoons poppy seeds (29 calories [12]) = 362 calories
- Mexican bowl: 3/4 cup cooked quinoa (167 calories) + 1/3 cup black beans (76 calories [13]) + 1/2 avocado (114 calories [14]) + 2 tablespoons pico de gallo (10 calories [15]) = 367 calories
Go Sweet
- Protein-powered bowl: 1/4 cup cooked quinoa (56 calories [16]) + 1/3 cup nonfat Greek yogurt (45 calories [17]) + 2 tablespoons raw almonds (78 calories [18]) + 1 tablespoon raspberry preserves (40 calories [19]) = 219 calories
- Superfood "sundae" bowl: 1/4 cup cooked quinoa (56 calories [20]) + 2 tablespoons coconut flakes (50 calories [21]) + 1 1/2 tablespoons goji berries (52 calories [22]) + 1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips (melted) (70 calories [23]) = 228 calories
- Tangy and sweet bowl: 1/2 cup cooked quinoa (111 calories [24]) + 1 tablespoon honey (64 calories [25]) + 2 ounces kumquats (40 calories [26]) + 2 ounces pomegranate seeds (24 calories [27]) = 239 calories
- Light apple pie bowl: 1/2 cup cooked quinoa (111 calories [28]) + 1 tablespoon maple syrup (52 calories [29]) + 1/2 cup chopped apples (33 calories [30]) + 2 tablespoons raisins (54 calories [31]) = 250 calories
Links:
[1] http://www.fitsugar.com/Healthy-Quinoa-Recipes-Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner-11351136
[2] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-grains-quinoa-cooked_f-ZmlkPTgyOTcy.html
[3] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-sauces-tomato-canned_f-ZmlkPTcxMDEw.html
[4] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-fresh-or-dried-vegetables-mushrooms-white-stir-fried_f-ZmlkPTE1MjA0Ng.html
[5] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-fresh-or-dried-vegetables-carrots-boiled_f-ZmlkPTEyNzMxNw.html
[6] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-packaged-vegetables-artichoke-hearts-baby_f-ZmlkPTE3OTgyNg.html
[7] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-fresh-or-dried-vegetables-cucumber-with-peel-raw_f-ZmlkPTcwODI2.html
[8] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-vinegars-balsamic_f-ZmlkPTEwNDU0Mw.html
[9] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-grains-quinoa-cooked_f-ZmlkPTgyOTcy.html
[10] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-fish-salmon-chinook-smoked_f-ZmlkPTcwNzkw.html
[11] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-yogurts-total-0-plain_f-ZmlkPTE4MjYwOQ.html
[12] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-herbs-spices-poppy-seed_f-ZmlkPTY0NTI0.html
[13] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-fresh-or-dried-legumes-beans-black-boiled_f-ZmlkPTEzMDYwNg.html
[14] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-fresh-fruits-avocados-californian-raw_f-ZmlkPTYzODU1.html
[15] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-salsas-pico-de-gallo_f-ZmlkPTE2NTE1Mg.html
[16] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-grains-quinoa-cooked_f-ZmlkPTgyOTcy.html
[17] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-yogurts-total-0-plain_f-ZmlkPTE4MjYwOQ.html
[18] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-nuts-almonds-raw_f-ZmlkPTYyNDEx.html
[19] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-jams-preserves-red-raspberry_f-ZmlkPTk4NTM2.html
[20] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-grains-quinoa-cooked_f-ZmlkPTgyOTcy.html
[21] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-nuts-coconut-chips_f-ZmlkPTIwMDEzNg.html
[22] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-dried-fruits-goji-berries_f-ZmlkPTEzNTEwOA.html
[23] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-baking-ingredients-baking-chips-chocolate-special-dark-real-mildly-sweet_f-ZmlkPTE0NTEyMg.html
[24] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-grains-quinoa-cooked_f-ZmlkPTgyOTcy.html
[25] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-honeys-honey_f-ZmlkPTY5Njk1.html
[26] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-fresh-fruits-kumquats-raw_f-ZmlkPTYzNzYz.html
[27] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-toppings-fruit-pomegranate-seeds_f-ZmlkPTE4ODU4NA.html
[28] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-grains-quinoa-cooked_f-ZmlkPTgyOTcy.html
[29] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-syrups-maple_f-ZmlkPTY5NzAy.html
[30] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-fresh-fruits-apples-raw-with-skin_f-ZmlkPTYzODc4.html
[31] http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-dried-fruits-raisins-seedless_f-ZmlkPTY5Mzg5.html