So we decided to add a little variety to your breakfast menu. This quinoa breakfast bowl offers a high-protein, fat loss friendly meal that will satisfy those frustrating moments when you want something different to start your day.

Why it’s a Healthy Recipe

Dubbed a “superfood,” quinoa has been around for centuries providing an excellent source of fiber-rich carbohydrate that’s also high in protein.

Gogi berries are another one of those foods with nutritional qualities that make it a great addition to almost any meal. This fruit, which is also a herb, has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine. With its high antioxidant properties, vitamin C and beta-carotene content, it’s the food version of a super-packed multi-vitamin.

Add the almonds and coconut, both great sources of healthy fats that have been shown to help lower your LDL cholesterol, and you have a potent combination of food that tastes great and provides your body with the nutrients it wants and needs.

Ingredients

Serving size: 2 servings Cook time: 20 minutes Difficulty: Easy

• ½ c uncooked quinoa*
• 1/2 c unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tbsp. Gogi berry
• 2 tbsp. unsweetened toasted coconut flakes, more for garnish is desired
• 2 tbsp. toasted almond slivers
• 2 tsp. stevia
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. of raw honey, optional
• 2 scoops protein powder

*We used a tri-colored quinoa, but any quinoa will be great in this dish.

 Directions

1. In a small pot, add the quinoa, one cup of water and sea salt. Bring to a boil, then cook and reduce to a simmer until cooked, about 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, assemble the ingredients. You might want to lightly toast the almond slivers and coconut flakes. It’s not a necessity, but toasting tends to bring out more flavor.
3. Once the quinoa is ready—you’ll know when it doubles in size and there’s no water left—remove from the heat and fluff it up with a fork.
4. Stir in the almond milk, stevia, cinnamon and salt. Then add the protein powder—it’s better to add this once the quinoa has cooled from the almond milk. Stir and fold in the almonds, coconut and Gogi berries.
5. Drizzle with honey and garnish with more coconut flakes and Gogi berries if you want it to look all pretty.

Nutritional Information & Macros

Dietary Information: Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Low Fat, Kosher, Vegan (if vegan protein powder is used) Macros per serving (1/2 recipe):

• 343 calories
• 9g fat
• 32.4g carbs
• 33g protein

The post Gogi Berry Quinoa Breakfast Bowl appeared first on Born Fitness.

The blandness in your diet can usually be blamed on one of three things: a lack of time, creativity, or variety.

An easy way to solve all three issues: a good side dish, which can be added to almost any meal or enjoyed as a snack. Enter the mediterranean quinoa salad.

Often mistaken as a grain, quinoa—pronounced keen-wah—is actually a seed. A complete protein and full of minerals, quinoa’s high-quality nutritional profile is undeniable. The taste, on the other hand, can be pretty bland.

Sure, eating basic nutrient-dense foods can help you with weight loss, but why suffer? This quick and easy recipe, created by Liv Langdon, Born Fitness meal prep specialist and founder of Liv Out Loud, can be made in less than 15 minutes.

If you’re a vegetarian, this is a go-to balanced dish with protein-packed quinoa and almonds. For the rest of us, add a grilled chicken breast or fish on top and lunch is ready to go.

Ingredients

• 2c cooked quinoa*
• ¼ c sundried tomatoes, sliced
• ½ c artichoke heart quarters, in water
• 1/3 c almond slivers, lightly toasted
• 2 tsp garlic, minced
• ½ tbsp olive oil
• ½ tbsp. grassfed butter, unsalted
• 2 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
• 1/2 lemon, freshly squeezed
• ¼ tsp Himalayan sea salt
• Black pepper, to taste
• 1 oz. crumbled feta cheese, just for taste (optional)

*Quinoa can be cooked in advanced using water (to keep it vegetarian friendly) or use a low-sodium chicken broth for added flavor.

Directions

1. In a large sauté pan on medium heat, add the olive oil and garlic.
2. When the garlic is slightly toasted, add in the rest of the ingredients except the feta cheese. Stir until well combined.
3. Cook for five to 10 minutes to let the flavors develop. Stir occasionally.
4. Top with crumbled feta cheese, if desired.
5. Serve up ¼ of the recipe for a light, vegetarian-friendly meal or add a grilled chicken breast to bump up the protein.
6. Makes four servings.

Nutritional Information & Macros

Dietary Information: Gluten free, Vegetarian

**If you want dairy-free, omit the feta cheese.

Macros per serving (¼ of the recipe)

• 222 calories
• 10g fat
• 25g carbs
• 7.5g protein

Total breakdown for 4 servings

Quinoa: 444 calories, 8g fat, 80g carbs, 16g protein

Almond slivers: 170 calories, 14g fat, 6g carbs, 6g protein

Olive oil: 60 calories, 7g fat, 0g carbs, 0g protein

Butter: 50 calories, 5.5g fat, 0g carbs, 0g protein

Sundried tomatoes: 34 calories, 0.68 g fat, 7.4g carbs, 2g protein

Artichoke hearts: 35 calories, 0g fat, 6g carbs, 2g protein

Feta cheese: 74 calories, 6g fat, 1.2g carbs, 4g protein

Total: 889 calories, 41g fat, 100g carbs, 30g protein

Adam Bornstein

Adam Bornstein is a New York Times bestselling author and the author of You Can’t Screw This Up. He is the founder of Born Fitness, and the co-founder of Arnold’s Pump Club (with Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Pen Name Consulting. An award-winning writer and editor, Bornstein was previously the Chief Nutrition Officer for Ladder, the Fitness and Nutrition editor for Men’s Health, Editorial Director at LIVESTRONG.com, and a columnist for SHAPE, Men’s Fitness, and Muscle & Fitness. He’s also a nutrition and fitness advisor for LeBron James, Cindy Crawford, Lindsey Vonn, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. According to The Huffington Post, Bornstein is “one of the most inspiring sources in all of health and fitness.” His work has been featured in dozens of publications, including The New York Times, Fast Company, ESPN, and GQ, and he’s appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and E! News.

The post Mediterranean Quinoa Salad appeared first on Born Fitness.