Refreshing “Detox” Quinoa Salad + More Happy Things & Healthy Living Tips!

You’ll love this refreshing quinoa salad packed with detox friendly veggies, brain friendly berries, + protein & fiber rich chickpeas & almonds. See how to make it & find out what else I’m loving in this week’s edition of Happy Things, Healthy Living Tips!

HAPPY THING NO. 1 | Refreshing Quinoa Salad {Gluten Free, Vegan, Low FODMAP Option}

I enjoyed EVERY.SINGLE.BITE. of this nutrient dense & super refreshing quinoa salad that was served at a DIFM {Dietitians in Integrative & Functional Medicine} Symposium I attended in Chicago last week. The topic was Feed Your Brain, Feed Your Genes, and I can’t wait to share what I learned with you, but in the meantime, you MUST make this salad.

It really is superfood for your brain and body, rich in detox enhancing cruciferous veggies + brain boosting berries, leafy greens, nuts, and other good stuff.  I shared the photo on Facebook, and it got lots of love, so I  attempted to recreate the recipe, albeit without ingredient amounts~I’ll leave that up to you!

5 from 2 votes

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Refreshing Quinoa Salad

This delicious & refreshing quinoa salad {gluten free, vegan, low FODMAP option} is packed with detox friendly veggies, brain friendly blueberries, + protein & fiber rich chickpeas & almonds. Top it off with your favorite dressing, for a super nourishing plant powered salad!

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine Gluten Free, Low FODMAP, Mediterranean, MIND Diet, Vegan

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Author EA Stewart | The Spicy RD

Ingredients

• Cooked quinoa
• Cooked or canned chickpeas*
• Leafy greens {i.e. arugula kale, baby, spinach, etc}
• Chopped raw broccoli*
• Chopped carrots
• Chopped raw cauliflower*
• Chopped red/yellow/orange bell peppers
• Blueberries
• Chopped mango*
• Dried cranberries*
• Slivered almonds*
• Easy 4-Ingredient Golden Balsamic Vinaigrette or your favorite salad dressing

Instructions

1. Cook the quinoa according to directions, or heat up frozen, pre-cooked quinoa in the microwave, and pour it into a large serving bowl.
2. Add the cooked or canned chickpeas to the quinoa.
3. Add greens, chopped veggies, blueberries, mango, and slivered almonds to the quinoa and chickpeas.
4. Make the dressing, and pour desired amount over ingredients. Stir well to toss before serving.

Recipe Notes

1. *LOW FODMAP OPTIONS*: Use canned, drained, and rinsed chickpeas, and limit to 1/2 cup per serving. Limit broccoli to 1/2 cup per serving {or use only broccoli heads, not stems}. Omit cauliflower & mango. Limit dried cranberries to 1 tablespoon per serving, and limit almonds to ~ 2 tablespoons per serving.
2. EASY MAKE AHEAD MEAL: This refreshing quinoa salad can be made ahead of time, and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It's delicious the next day, served as leftovers for lunch!

Interested in nutrition & brain health? –> How to Boost Your Brain Health with a {Delicious} MIND Diet Meal Plan

HAPPY THING NO. 2. | Fun Food Finds at FNCE

Another fun thing I did while I was in Chicago last week, was sample new foods at FNCE {Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo}. There were so many fun food finds I tried~these are just a handful of my favorites…

1. Zupa Superfood Soup. I sampled Cucumber Avocado, one of their 8 flavors, and loved it! This is a delicious way to eat more veggies & boost your daily dose of fiber, not to mention it’s SO EASY~just open the bottle & enjoy! All the soups are gluten free, vegan, low in sugar, and certified organic. Buy them online, or find them at your local supermarket. Have you tried them yet? I’d love to hear what you think too!
2. Farmhouse Culture Kraut Krisps. I’ve been a fan of Farmhouse Culture Kraut for awhile now, but this was my first time trying their Krisps {i.e. chips}, and I really liked them a a lot. Probiotic rich sauerkraut is the main ingredient in all the Krisps, but, if you’re not a sauerkraut fan, trust me, you’d never know it! Buy ’em on Thrive Market{affiliate link} or find them in a store near you.
3. Schar Gluten Free Artisan Baker Multigrain Bread. This gluten free bread made with sourdough, millet, buckwheat, quinoa, sunflower seeds, flax, and honey, is one of my new favorite gluten free breads. Big Tex really likes it too~It even tastes good un-toasted, so it’s a delicious option for school lunch sandwiches. Buy it at a store near you, or on Thrive Market{affiliate link}.
4. P-nuff Crunch Baked Peanut Puffs. With a hint of sweetness {only 2 grams of sugar per serving}, plus a pinch of salt {I love a good sweet & salty snack!}, fiber & protein {from beans & brown rice}, these P-nuff Crunch Puffs were a delicious discovery that I think both kids AND adults will enjoy for a healthier snack. Find ’em on Amazon {affiliate link} or, at a store near you {I think they’re only available on the East coast right now}.

Disclosure: I was sponsored by Schär to speak on a celiac/gluten sensitivity panel at FNCE. I was not compensated to write this post. I enjoy sharing products with you that I personally use and like.

HAPPY THING NO. 3 | Strawberry Cheesecake Sundae for Breakfast!

I’ve been working hard taste testing smoothies, soups, and sundaes from Daily Harvest, so I can share my favorites with you. {It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it 🙂 } This Strawberry Cheesecake Sundae {Gluten Free & Vegan} is one of my favorites~betcha’ can’t guess the secret ingredient in it! Or, can you???

So far, my other favorites include: Smoothies {Mango + Papaya, Mint + Cacao, Cold Brew Almond, & Strawberry + Peach}, Sundaes {Chocolate Hazelnut, Coffee Crunch}, and Soups { Coconut + Carrot, Cauliflower + Leek, Mushroom + Miso}.

I don’t eat them every day, but I keep a stash in my freezer for busy days when I want a quick & easy breakfast or lunch, that’s super nourishing as well. If you haven’t tried Daily Harvest yet, definitely give it a try and use my code “eastewart” for 3 free products off your first order.

Try It Out–> Daily Harvest {affiliate link}

HAPPY THING NO. 4 | Pecans for Eating AND Entertaining

Don’t these succulents, pecans, and eucalyptus leaves look together?! This centerpiece was on display at a dinner I attended in Chicago, hosted by The American Pecan Council. We were treated to a delicious dinner featuring, you guessed it, all things pecans including the most amazing Wood Grill Farm Apples with Pecan Crema, Apple Vinaigrette, & Pecorino Cheese. Swoon!!!

I’ve got lots to share with you on pecans in another post, but for now, I’ll let you in on a little fun fact that pecans are the only nut native to America. Did you know that?? Oh, and if you’re looking for a fun Thanksgiving centerpiece idea, I think this one looks so pretty and festive, not too mention easy enough for a non-crafty person like me to put together. What about you? Are you crafty, or non-crafty???

Disclosure: The American Pecan council hosted me at this dinner. I was not compensated to write this post.

HAPPY THING NO. 5 | Fall Family Trip to Colorado & Wyoming

Last but not least, I had to share these photos with you from our recent family trip to Colorado & Wyoming, because nothing makes me happier, than traveling with my family!

We took a long weekend trip to go to Mr. Spicy’s homecoming at The University of Wyoming {Yay Pokes! They beat New Mexico 42-3!!!}, caught up with good friends, and took a side trip to University of Colorado Boulder so the kids could get a look at the school.

It was really fun getting in some quality family time before the craziness of the holidays sets in, and we loved the cooler temps, along with a light dusting of snow~so pretty!

MORE HAPPY THINGS & HEALTHY LIVING LINKS I’M LOVING THIS WEEK…

1. Did you know that {dried} cranberries might be beneficial for gut health by making a positive impact on the gut microbiome? Get your delicious cranberry inspiration here –> 45 Healthy Cranberry Recipes from Registered Dietitians.
2. Are you familiar with the health benefits of resistant starch? I shared some info in this post featuring my Happy Belly Green Banana Flour Brownie Bites, and if you want to learn more about this prebiotic rich food, integrative dietitian Danielle Omar, at Food Confidence, shares some good information in her post, Resistant Starch: What Is It, and Why Is It Good for You?
3. The low FODMAP diet can be tricky, especially when you’re just starting out. Here are some common mistakes plus tips on how to navigate the low FODMAP diet successfully. –> 6 Common FODMAP Mistakes.
4. Looking for some new, high protein vegetarian recipes to try? These 20 High Protein Vegetarian Recipes from Stacey Mattinson, look absolutely delicious!
5. I haven’t been able to take my eyes off this  mouth-wateringly delicious looking Tandoori Roasted Cauliflower Dip from Cotter Crunch. Make a batch ahead of time, and pair it with veggies + gluten-free crackers/toast for an easy weeknight dinner. Yum!

There are affiliate links in the post for products I personally use and recommend. If you purchase any of these products, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you, which helps support the cost of running this blog. Thank you so much for your support!

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The Spicy RD( Integrative Dietitian, Gluten Free & Low FODMAP Food Blogger )

Hi There! I’m EA, an integrative nutrition coach & recipe developer. I create healthy, seasonal gluten free recipes & low FODMAP recipes for a wide variety of diets (anti-inflammatory, low carb, Mediterranean, paleo, vegan, vegetarian, & more) to help you live your healthiest, happiest, most DELICIOUS life. Cheers!

https://www.eastewart.com