Today was supposed to be a “peek in my cart” day. The day when I show you all of the deals that I’ve found. And to be honest, this is a pretty decent week at my local grocery stores.
At Shaw’s there was a $5/50 coupon attached to the flier, with some pretty decent deals that it could be paired with.
And pair I did. I made sure to stock up on groceries that had coordinating coupons like Mott’s Apple Juice, Fresh Express Salad (hooray for produce coupons), Johnsonville Sauage, and lots of other foods that were an even further bargain with the $5/50 coupon.
One of the items on my list to grab that wasn’t on sale was quinoa. Quinoa is a super food that I’ve recently studied up on. It looks like a grain, although it’s not. But it has the nutty texture of one and acts quite nicely as a carb in a dish.
Packed with amino acids, quinoa offers a tremendous amount of nutrition. Once considered “the gold of the Incas”, quinoa has reemerged as not only a nutritional powerhouse, but a popular ingredient in the gourmet food scene.
Ever since the accident, I’ve been adding seriously nutrient dense foods into my diet to aid my healing body. My doctor believes that it will take a full two years for me to heal, so I’m being mindful to eat foods that help in that process.
And let me tell you, that comes with a price. Food that is truly good for you can cost a pretty penny. Quinoa is a good example. At my Shaw’s it was $11.99 for a 26oz bag. Apparently they were being literal with that whole gold of the Incas thing.
But the funny thing about that? It’s a diet staple in Equador, Bolivia, and Peru, which means it’s affordable there. Sort of like our potatoes. But here in the United States it’s a health food novelty, therefore expensive.
Despite the price, I tossed it in my cart because I was too curious not to…..
Quinoa that is not washed well is known to have a bitter taste. And some people in health food forums compare the flavor of quinoa to mud. How is that for a build up?
But I was completely smitten with it from the first bite. Sort of nutty, kind of pasta/rice like, but definitely delicious. I simmered my quinoa in chicken broth and a little curry powder, which resulted in a flavorful filling side dish.
For my dinner tonight, I tossed in some shrimp and zucchini because I’m getting shrimp dirt cheap this week at Stop&Shop. I would’ve never guessed that I’d pay less for shrimp than quinoa.
After dinner I did some research online. I found that quinoa is much more affordable on Amazon. Some friends on Facebook told tales of finding it even cheaper through co-ops and bulk stores.
I’ll have to investigate those options because I really enjoyed quinoa. Even though it’s a budget buster, it’s a healthy one. One that I’m willing to invest in.
How about you? Have you tried quinoa? Like it? How do you get it cheaper? Do you avoid “health foods” due to the expense?
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Last time I got it at Costco it was $10 for a 4 lb bag…I bought several, as it is very expensive in the local grocery stores!!
We don’t have Costco here where I live, but I’ll take a peek at BJ’s. If not, I’ll drive to Costco even if it’s an hour away. For that type of savings, it’s worth it.
Also cheap at trader joe’s…
Christmas Tree Shop sells Bob’s Red Mill products. I’m not sure of the price, but it might be cheaper.
If you are near a Trader Joes, they have a “Harvest Grains Blend”. It contains quinoa, couscous, orzo, and garbanzo beans. It is delicious and a 1 lb bag is $2.69.
I like the red quinoa better than the white, but they are both pretty tasty. The first few times I tried it, I didn’t really like it (I can definitely understand the muddy taste comment you heard somewhere) Now I like to cook it in a rice cooker as it seems to make it fluffier and not so wet. I buy it in bulk as well as pre-packaged at places like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and sometimes our local QFC.
NearEast has started doing quinoa, and I’ve used their couscous for years. I haven’t tried the quinoa yet, but that brand goes on sale a lot and there was a coupon in the paper today!
I have been using quinoa for years. I buy it at my local health food store. I buy the organic red kind for about 7.99 a pound. In Japan, they make grain mixes with brown rice, kasha, groats, quinoa and millet. I serve it as an alternative to oatmeal for breakfast. It is super dense and full of fiber.
Ocean State Job Lot also sells Bob’s Red Mill Products at a decent price. Not sure if they have quinoa but probably worth checking.
Do share about the dirt cheap shrimp please!
I have found it at Big Lots. They carry a lot of Bobs Red Mill there. Good luck and happy Quinoa-ing!
I was in Costco earlier today and was considering buying it as I feel like I really need some new foods in my diet. But I didnt get it as I have no idea how to cook it.
Teresa
Got 14 oz bag at Market Basket for $4.99. They also had Chia Seeds, another super food. There was also a coupon for $1/2. Quinoa is also a complete protein, great for vegetarians. I put quinoa in my black bean veggie burgers; delicious!
Quite the gritty post Melanie. Mud tasting quinoa and dirt cheap shrimp!
I wasn’t hungry this morning but the pix from your last two posts have me practically drooling on my keyboard now! Can’t wait to try these recipes!
Love quinoa. Here’s a recipe we like from Martha Stewart. http://qa2.wholeliving.com/recipe/quinoa-spinach-bake
It sells at Market Basket for about $7 for that same bag…
I got mine at Azure Standard in bulk.
It was 5 lbs for about $16.40, I think.
Just don’t make this:
http://aroundthetableri.blogspot.com/2012/02/cheesy-quinoa-mac-cheese.html
It was just yucky. And I was so sad….
Hi Melanie
Yes, we like quinoa. My sister got me to try it and now I love it. What I do is a greek salad (black olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese and quinoa, a little bit of lemon and some salt and pepper) delicious!!! WE buy it at costco. It is organic and so much cheaper! I want to try other recipes, so keep the ideas coming.
Costco is the place to buy quinoa – I got it a couple months ago – 4lbs for 8.99. I compared prices on Amazon and a couple other places, but costco’s price cannot be beat.
I also do a salad that uses quinoa – its a pasta salad, but instead of pasta, I use the quinoa. It also pairs very well with really spicy Indian food.
This looks so yummy! Too bad I can’t eat shrimp.. darn allergies..
By the way, did you do something on your blog? I’ve been reading it through Google Reader and all of a sudden I can’t see your whole posts there anymore. Only the first few sentences and then a blank page. I used to see it with pics and all that…
I, too, was going to suggest Trader Joe’s, but if you are going to trek to Costco, that sounds like that may be the winner!!
I think I got my 2lb bag at BJ for 4.99.
Ok, so maybe my readers are even healthier than I thought. Maybe we should start a natural foods blog? But that would mean I’d have to give up my Oreos. Lol.
I have had it in the past, didn’t love it, but liked it. Husband didn’t really care for it. And d/t the price, I haven’t bought it since. Looks like I’m making a trip to Costco when I visit my brothers in FL later this year!
Hi Melanie! As vegetarians we LOVE quinoa – it is the only complete protein that is also vegetarian. I usually buy in bulk from the local health food store (I am in Atlanta). It is usually about $4/lb I think. My favorite use is in a cold salad – mix with a can of black beans, some mexi-corn (Birdseye makes a good one), tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, lime or lemon juice, vinegar and olive oil. It is delicious! And about a cup of uncooked quinoa goes far in this recipe. Good luck!!
Look on whole foods’ website. They have a number of recipes for quinoa
You can get it at Trader Joes for a deal and if you want to buy in bulk, BJs has organic quinoa too.
Do you have “Big Lots” stores where you live? They carry a lot of Bob’s products for around $3!
Quinoa is way cheaper out of bulk bins. I love to make it for breakfast. I cook it in Almond milk instead of water, and then pour it over frozen berries. I then add a tiny bit of Stevia for a little more sweetness!
I have tried it only once and did not like it…but it’s worth trying again!
By the way, I saw you from a distance at the field trip on Tuesday-you looked fantastic! Even Nathan said how “awesome” you looked. That’s coming from a kid who barely talks!!
I wish I had been close enough to talk to you but maybe we will see each other over the summer.
Winnie P
ummm… quinoa is no longer affordable or a staple in south america precisely because it’s a novelty for us.