So are you joining the Challenge?
I’m talking about the Life Body Core Challenge–are you in?
If you are, this recipe is for you.
And even if you aren’t, this recipe is for you too.
Because whether we are doing the Challenge or not, we all need better nutrition.

I’m am excited to start the Challenge myself, because I know it will push me.
I need those little pushes.
As I have said before, the hardest part for me will be the nutrition, and therefore that is the part I am being proactive about.
I already have a small Pinterest folder (find it here) with
recipes I want to try while I am on the Challenge.
This is one of the things that makes me so excited about being a part of this journey: trying new foods.
I do a pretty decent job cooking healthy foods for myself and my family.
But I do fall into the cooking doldrums–cooking the same thing over and over again, without a lot of variety.
This is especially true when it comes to trying new, “uber healthy” recipes.
Sometimes I just don’t want to put forth the effort of searching out and purchasing new ingredients, and then making a new recipe because, what if it doesn’t taste good?
The flip side of that of course is, what if it does?

So today I am bringing you Quinoa Breakfast Bowls.
These are not something I’d normally make.
I am pretty happy with my eggs and spinach for breakfast almost every day.
And if I want to mix it up, I have oatmeal and fruit.
Both of these are nutritious, nourishing, and taste delicious.
But, I am pushing myself to try new things here, and to grow my arsenal of nutritious recipes.
And since we all know the importance of a good breakfast, this is a good place to start.

If you are unfamiliar with the health benefits of quinoa, let me give you a little primer.
1. Quinoa is high in protein.  This is wonderful news if you think eggs are the only way you can get protein for breakfast.
2. Quinoa is a complex carbohydrate with a low glycemic index.  This means there is no quick energy spike and then crash.
Your body burns it slowly and steadily, giving you lasting energy and making you feel fuller longer.
3. Quinoa contains twice as much fiber as almost any other grain.  We all know fiber helps us in that department,
but it also helps us feel full longer, therefore helping to control our appetite.
4.  Quinoa contains iron.  If you think you can only get iron by eating a steak or downing fistfuls of spinach, think again!
Quinoa also contains lysine, magnesuim, riboflavin, and manganese.  These are all good things, I promise.

Now that I’ve sold you on the health benefits of quinoa, let me share the recipe with you.
Quinoa Breakfast Bowls with Coconut and Lime

Recipe Notes:
This is a simple recipe to make, you just need about 15 minutes for cooking time.
If you tell me you don’t have 15 minutes in the morning (how about while you shower, dry your hair, or put on your makeup)
then you can cook this the night before, have all your toppings ready to go, and assemble this in less than 5 minutes in the morning.
Boom!
No excuses.
Be sure to rinse your quinoa before you cook it.
If you don’t rinse it, it has a bitter taste to it.
If you want this dish to be more porridge like, don’t cook off all the liquid.
If you prefer your quinoa drier and fluffier, then go ahead and cook off all the liquid.
You’ll need to check the quinoa occasionally while it is cooking and give it a stir to make sure it is not burning.
If you are not a fan of coconut, then you can cook the quinoa in almond milk.
Toasting the coconut gives it extra flavor, but it is an entirely optional step.
Again, if you are not a fan of coconut, leave it out, and replace it with something else.
This recipe serves 2, or 1 with leftovers.

Ingredients:
!/2 cup of coconut milk (plus a little more for pouring over when the bowl is made)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
1/8 of a teaspoon fine grain sea salt
Grated zest of 1 lime
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut toasted, or unsweetened coconut flakes toasted
Honey to taste
Additional toppings: chopped nuts ( I used hazelnuts) sliced banana, diced mango, sliced kiwi, fresh berries, a dollop of greek yogurt, poppy seeds, or anything else that sounds delicious!

Cooking directions:
Combine coconut milk, water, quinoa, and salt in a pan.
Cook on med high heat and bring to a boil.
Lower heat and simmer, partially covered, 15-20 minutes, until almost all the moisture in the quinoa has been absorbed.
While quinoa is cooking, you can toast your coconut by placing in a single layer in a frying pan, and cooking over low heat,
stirring and tossing, until the coconut just begins to brown. Don’t leave it as it will burn quickly.
Remove quinoa from heat.
Spoon quinoa into bowl.
Sprinkle the lime zest and coconut over the top, squeeze lime juice to taste, and then add any additional toppings you choose.
Finally, drizzle with a bit of honey, if you need that extra touch of sweetness.
Confession: I did.

And now, sit down with your breakfast bowl and enjoy a meal that will refuel you after your morning workout and give you energy to get through the morning.
Please don’t eat it in your car.
Even 5 minutes spent eating at the table, with a pretty napkin, and a real bowl, will make the meal that much better.
Treat yourself!

If you have any recipes that meet the criteria for the Life Body Core Challenge, send them my way.
If they aren’t too tricky, I might try them.
Let’s do this together.
Keep on Living Fit!
Greta