I have successfully used quinoa flour in many traditional baked goods. My goal is to offer tips and recipes to turn traditional baked goods into guilt-free, delicious options for gluten free and vegan lifestyles. I run, no sprint away from recipes with long ingredient lists and complicated instructions therefore all my recipes are simple with the ingredients accessible locally.
The journey that led me here started in 2018 when I discovered a new passion for multi-sport endurance events. They tell you that nutrition is the fourth leg of the triathlon and for someone with a life-long passion for baking, it felt like fate. A plant-based diet isn’t for the faint hearted and this kind of challenge really suited me, I became obsessed with experimenting to make sure I got in sufficient protein and complex carbohydrates.
My biggest win so far has been my discovery of quinoa, learning about the immense nutritional value of this superfood got me hyped. Quinoa is a gluten free, whole-grain carbohydrate, as well as a whole protein (meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids). The perfect way to increase the nutritional content of your meals delivering energy for any activity that comes your way.
I’ve always loved baking, which was fueled by an unparalleled sweet tooth, so empty calories quickly added up.
I’ve been experimenting with creating delicious tasting healthy treats that give me all the nutrients I need and making my own quinoa flour to use as a substitute for regular flour in my post workout snacks. It has a delicate nutty flavour which is perfect for gluten free baking and savoury dishes.
I’m a grazer.
You will never hear me say ‘Oh, I forgot to eat today’. Never, no matter how busy I am but this does take planning and plenty of prepping but absolutely 100% possible. Therefore, I needed to have high protein, healthy snacks readily available to satisfy my sweet tooth and my need for consistent fueling throughout the day.
With a plant-based diet, I need to ensure I get in enough protein, so my muscles can recover after intense sessions. My post-workout snacks became a huge focus for me, but I didn’t love the store bought options out there and most vegan baking recipes are still loaded with refined sugar and carbs, which is not how I wanted to nourish my body.
Hence Keen On Quinoa… now, let’s bake.
Love
Alison & Ewan