We give it to DD mixed with butternut squash or with Greek yogurt and fruit. We've tried it with her as a side and she had no interest. But she seems to like it mixed with something else.
Usually I'll purée some butternut squash for her, then mix quinoa with chunks of squash, sautéed onion, salt, pepper, olive oil and maybe a handful of dried cranberries for me. I take it to work and it's a very filling lunch. DH won't go near it though.

i make a quinoa mac and cheese style

There are also a lot of different quinoa flours available that you can mix with other flours to make cornbread and lots of other interesting dishes.

With yogur too

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try also preparing it like rice pudding. Cook it. Then cook with milk (almond milk or.other sub is fine) and a little sugar.or dried fruit etc. I make it in a big.batch and keep in the fridge for an easy breakfast.

We do this too. It's a favorite of my 1.5 yo.

I was going to suggest this or some kind of "cake" - homemade veggie burger or the like. The problem with quinoa and babies is that it gets EVERYWHERE - in their hair, in their clothes, in their cute little folds, on the floor, on nearby pets....and it's hard to clean it up! My kids are 5 and 2 and they love it, but we put a mat down

Anonymous wrote:Try also preparing it like rice pudding. Cook it. Then cook with milk (almond milk or.other sub is fine) and a little sugar.or dried fruit etc. I make it in a big.batch and keep in the fridge for an easy breakfast.

We do this too. It's a favorite of my 1.5 yo.

You can also buy quinoa flakes at places like Whole Foods and Mom's, and it cooks up sort of like hot cereal, so it would be easy to mix with applesauce or some other kind of fruit or veg. I think people bake with the flakes, too, though I haven't tried it.

Try also preparing it like rice pudding. Cook it. Then cook with milk (almond milk or.other sub is fine) and a little sugar.or dried fruit etc. I make it in a big.batch and keep in the fridge for an easy breakfast.

Amaranth is also a high protein grain.

If you're little guy has a beef/chicken/dairy allergy--I would make sure you use vegetable broth either homemade or something that's clearly labeled.

This might also give you a few other ideas for protein:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/top-13-vegan-vegetarian-protein-sources/story?id=19896734#

I think the main thing is just to make sure it is well-rinsed

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/798573

and google quinoa stomach upset

Yeah, just like rice, you can cook it according to the box instructions, but tend to want to add not flavor, via stock, butter, or similar. Quinoa is extremely flexible and tastes good hot or in cold salads with vinaigrettes.

The fist few times you eat it, you may find the texture a bit odd. I think for adults, its an acquired taste. For little kids who don't know to be surprised by grains with a protein texture, its not.

I would start with the whole twins and if you find you or your kid can't stand them, try using the ground stuff as a substitute for some of the flour in other dishes.

I just started getting into quinoa as an option to rice and I just buy the bag at Trader Joes and cook it per the directions on the package. I do substitute chicken broth for the water though, and I've noticed that it enhances the flavor of the quinoa. I've found that it lasts a while just like rice. I've also used it as the base for a salad and have added veggies and a dressing.

So we're late to the game with this I think, but DH and I have never had (that we know of), much less made, quinoa. I've read that it's a great source of protein for babies, though. My little guy is allergic to dairy, eggs, beef, and chicken so I've been looking for ways to get some more protein in him. He is super picky and likes things fairly smooth and isn't really self feeding yet. Please tell me all there is to know about what to buy (ground vs whole?), how to prepare, how to serve, and how to store quinoa (fridge vs freezer) for a picky mostly breastfed 11 month old .