History/Origin ?Quinoa is pronounced KEEN-WAH. ?The quinoa plant is native toBolivia, Chile andPeru. ?It has been growing in the Andes Mountains for over 5,000 years, and was a staple of the Incas. ?Peru and Bolivia maintain seed banks with over 1,800 varieties. ?It has been grown in the . since the 1980s,when two farmers began cultivating it in Colorado. Botanical ?Although many consider quinoa a grain, itis not atrue cereal or grain because it is nota grass. ?It is the seed of a plant called: Chenopodium quinoa ?Quinoa is an ancient food. It is a relative of leafy green vegetables and is closely related to beets, spinach and chard in the family Amaranthaceae. ?The plant resembles spinach, but with stalks as high as 9 feet. The large seedsvary in color: red, purple, pinkand yellow. ?Quinoa is: ?Very high in protein making it a healthy choice for vegetarians, vegans and athletes. ?A good source of dietary fiber. ?High in magnesium and may be especially valuable to those with migraine headaches. ?Gluten-FREE and considered easy to digest. ?Because of its high nutritional value, quinoa is beingconsidered a possible crop in NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Sup
