Autumn Breakfast

Living in the Pacific Northwest means that we have a fleeting autumn season.  This makes it incredibly special.  Jordan and I feel especially inspired by the cold mornings we’ve had this past week.  Gone are the days of wanting something light for breakfast.  We want something warming and filling before going to work outside for the day.

Last night, we filled a small crock pot up with water and Kaniwa and left it to cook overnight.  In the morning, we woke to a warm breakfast cereal that is full of protein and easy to digest.

If you’ve not heard of Kaniwa before, it is an ancient South American grain (seed, actually) that is a close cousin of quinoa, but without the saponins that hinder digestion.  Kaniwa is grown mostly in Peru or Bolivia, and because of its popularity, it is difficult to find organic so we are selling it in our store.  One of the best things about Kaniwa besides the nutty flavor and beautiful reddish color, is that it is extremely healthy.  It is packed with fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants.  So many grains are hard on your digestive system, but Kaniwa is not.  Unlike other grains like wheat, oats, rice, millet, Kaniwa doesn’t spike your blood sugar and leave you hungry after it burns off.  It is so high in protein that it is like having an egg breakfast.  One protein that it is especially high in is lysine, which is typically found in only small amounts in other grains.  If you are vegetarian, you should really look into this.  Another interesting thing about Kaniwa is that it is higher in anti-inflammatory Omega 3 fatty acids than other breakfast cereals, which are ridiculously high in inflammatory Omega 6 fats.  It is also high in iron, B vitamins, vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and manganese.

If you cannot tolerate quinoa or do not like the taste of quinoa, this is a great alternative because it is not bitter, and is not a diuretic like quinoa.  It is mild and gentle.

The other ingredients are equally healthy.

Organic Ceylon Cinnamon is considered “true cinnamon” and is not the kind of “cinnamon” that we are used to in the United States.  Most cinnamon we use is actually Cassia, and has a warm, red-hot candy kind of taste.  Ceylon, on the other hand, is more vanilla-like and doesn’t have the bite of Cassia.  It is also more healthful.  You can read more about this in our post:  Ceylon Cinnamon vs. Regular Cassia Cinnamon.  Ceylon Cinnamon aids with blood sugar regulation and circulation.  It is also notably less pungent.

Organic Fenugreek is amazing.  It tastes like maple syrup without being sweet.  It is gentle enough for babies, but strong enough to provide noticeable changes to your health.  Fenugreek is known to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic and antitumorigenic activities. Cultivated in North Africa, the Middle East, Egypt and India, it has a long history as an ingredient in traditional medicine.  According to Dr. Axe, it improves digestive problems, cholesterol levels, soothes an upset stomach, alleviates constipation, is useful for those suffering with ulcerative colitis because it has anti-inflammatory effects, and can benefit people with heart conditions.  The way it works is pretty simple.  It basically slows down the absorption of sugars in the stomach while stimulating insulin.  This is why it is great for diabetics.  It also enhances exercise performance so it is a great way to start the day before going to the gym.

Seriously.  All this with only a five-minute prep time: