Is Quinoa Keto? (How to make it work on a low-carb diet)

Whole grains are full of dietary fiber, vitamins, iron, and other essential minerals. Fiber helps lower the amount of net carbs which is important in keto, but does quinoa have enough fiber to make it keto?

Written by
Raul Bonilla BS Nutritional Science  February 10, 2023

Whole grains are a great addition to any balanced diet, providing insoluble fiber, minerals, and essential nutrients. They can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and help you lose weight. Quinoa, though technically the seeds of a plant, are classified as a whole grain, which makes it a superfood!  

Although quinoa can be very healthy for you, it is high in carbohydrates which does not make it very keto-friendly.  

Table of Contents 
Why is Quinoa Not Keto? 
– Health Benefits 
Eating Quinoa on a Low-Carb or Keto Diet 
Keto-Friendly Alternatives to Quinoa 

Why is Quinoa Not Keto? 

Tri-colored quinoa has about 18g of net carbs per 3. 5oz (100g) cooked serving.  

Other kinds of quinoas such as white, red, and black can vary slightly in their net carb total, but not by much. Overall, all quinoa is too high in carbohydrates to work with a keto diet. 

Though there are many ways to follow a keto diet, the standard usually restricts carbs to about 50g of carbs a day or less. If you don’t already have a full keto meal plan taken care of for you, you have to calculate your daily carb limit yourself. Unfortunately, this means avoiding quinoa for the most part.  

	Calories	Total Carbs	Fiber	Net Carbs	Total Fat
Cooked Quinoa (100g)	120	21. 2g	2.8g	18.4g	1.9g

SUMMARY

Quinoa is not keto because it has about 18g of net carbs per 100g (3.5oz) serving. Even with relaxed keto diets that allow up to 50g of carbs per day, this is not very low-carb friendly.

Health Benefits 

Though it can’t easily work with most keto diets, quinoa is considered a superfood because of what it can do for your digestive and cardiovascular health.  

Most of the fiber in quinoa is insoluble which means it doesn’t easily dissolve in water. This means it is digested slower, which keeps you fuller longer, and prevents spikes in blood sugar. Not only is this great for weight loss, it’s also great for managing diabetes and better overall heart health! 

Additionally, quinoa is a naturally gluten-free grain. People with gluten-allergies or sensitivities like those with Celiac disease can safely enjoy this healthy whole grain without triggering any health issues.  

SUMMARY

Quinoa can help you lose weight, regulate blood sugar levels, keep you feeling fuller longer, and improving overall heart health. It is also a naturally gluten free grain.

Eating Quinoa on a Low-Carb or Keto Diet 

Many people still want to fit quinoa into their diets because it is highly nutritious. If you want to add quinoa to a keto diet, the key is portion control.  

A full serving of quinoa is about 100g or 3.5oz, which contains about 18.4g net carbs. 

Even on a relaxed keto diet, it’s difficult to make room for that many carbs. Therefore, the only way to fit quinoa in is to be strict with your carb intake for the rest of your meals, or to eat smaller portion sizes. 

Sprinkling a few tablespoons or so of quinoa over a salad or mixing it into your stew or soup will allow you to still enjoy some of the nutritional benefits of quinoa without going over your carb allowance. A larger portion of 1 ounce of quinoa will cut net carbs down to about 6g! 

SUMMARY

The best way to fit quinoa into your keto diet is by eating smaller portions. 1oz of quinoa will land around 6g of net carbs vs 18.4g in a full serving (3.5 oz).

Keto-Friendly Alternatives to Quinoa 

Substituting quinoa in recipes is easy! Riced vegetables have similar textures to quinoa without the added carbs.  

Riced cauliflower and broccoli are popular replacement choices for quinoa and rice for those on the keto diet because their textures are very similar. With the right seasoning, riced vegetables can make delicious keto meal ingredients! 

Try these keto alternatives to quinoa: 

• Shredded broccoli rice 
• Cauliflower rice 
• Shredded water chestnuts 
• Shredded daikon radish 
• Shredded rutabaga 
• Shirataki rice 
• Cabbage rice 
• Finely chopped nuts 

SUMMARY

The best substitutions for quinoa are rice or finely shredded low-carb vegetables like broccoli, radish, or cauliflower, which provide the same crunch and grainy texture as quinoa.

Is Quinoa Keto? What to Know About Quinoa and the Keto Diet

Quinoa is undoubtedly a versatile grain. Packed with high levels of fiber, protein, and amino acids, the high-protein South American super food has been a dieter’s favorite. But where does it mesh with the keto diet?

The ketogenic diet is a popular low-carb, high-fat diet that often involves tracking net carbs. Those “net” carbs are generally defined as the amount of carbohydrates in a food or drink that your body can digest and use for energy.

The idea behind keto, after all, is to move your body away from using carbs for energy and towards using fat for energy. This state, known as “ketosis,” may then lead to fat loss, proponents of the diet argue.

Put another way: “People following the keto diet are trying to force their bodies to burn fat,” says Natalie Rizzo, R.D., a plant-based nutritionist.

How that looks in terms of macronutrient breakdown: Depending on which keto plan you follow, 70 to 80 percent of your daily calories come from fat, about 15 to 20 percent are derived, and then what remains is 5 to 10 percent carbs. For someone on a 2,000-calorie diet, that’s about 25 to 50 grams of carbs per day.

The point of all this is to showcase that carbohydrates are very limited on the ketogenic diet and, for that reason, it’s incredibly important to be selective of which carbs you eat. (This is also why the diet is controversial—there is nothing inherently evil about carbohydrates.)

So when considering carb sources, like quinoa, you might be skeptical as to whether or not you can fit this high-carb ingredient into your diet. After all, a 1/2 cup of quinoa has 20 grams of carbs and 4 grams of fiber, so 18 grams of net carbs.

Which leads to a very important question.

Is quinoa keto?

Unfortunately, it’s not the best if you’re on keto. For someone following a keto diet, quinoa will eat up a lot of your carb allotment. “If you eat quinoa, you can’t eat many fruits or veggies that day and may miss out on the nutrients they contain,” she says.

“You can eat a 1/2 cup if it’s the only carb in the meal or cut it down to a 1/4 cup if you pair it with a veggie,” she suggests. Or use it as a side dish for a lean protein, like fish, chicken or eggs, or mix it with olive oil and herbs to amp up the flavor.

“Quinoa also has other important nutrients, like 4 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber, both of which contribute to feelings of fullness,” she says.

How often can I eat quinoa on the keto diet?

As for frequency, you can eat quinoa everyday—it’s a healthy food. “But if you eat it everyday, stick to a 1/4 cup and pair it with veggies to mix up your nutrient intake,” she says.

Because quinoa has fiber and protein, it contributes to keeping you full throughout the day. Just remember it’s all about what other carbs you’re giving up to keep on eating that quinoa daily—but that’s up to you.

Isadora Baum

Isadora Baum is a freelance writer, certified health coach, and author of 5-Minute Energy. She can’t resist a good sample, a margarita, a new HIIT class, or an easy laugh. Learn more about her on her website: isadorabaum.com. 

Quinoa on the Keto Diet: Guidelines for Eating

KetoDietum » Foods » Quinoa on the Keto Diet: What you need to know about its use and health effects

Quinoa is a popular product that finds its way into various culinary recipes. It is a source of protein and many other useful substances. However, if you are following a keto diet, then it is important to know if you can include quinoa in your diet. The keto diet is based on a low level of carbohydrate intake, so limiting the consumption of foods containing high levels of carbohydrates is a key aspect of this diet. In this article, we will look at whether quinoa can be consumed on a keto diet, what are the advantages and disadvantages of this product, and how to choose and cook quinoa on a keto diet.

Contents

1. Keto Quinoa
2. Quinoa Product Features
3. Calories
4. How many carbohydrates?
5. Benefits and harms of Quinoa
6. Benefits
7. Harms
8. Delicious quinoa recipe for the keto diet
9. Can quinoa be on the keto diet?
10. Q&A
11. Reviews

Quinoa on the Keto Diet

Quinoa belongs to the category of pseudo-grains rich in different types of amino acids. As part of the product, you can find valine, leucine, lysine, threonine and some other amino acids that are necessary for normal health and maintaining the proper functioning of internal systems and organs.

Just because quinoa is great for your body, it doesn’t mean you can eat quinoa on a keto diet. In order to determine the possibility of including it in your diet, you need to pay attention to the calorie content and the amount of carbohydrates in the composition.

Quinoa – product features

The chemical composition of the product is what you first need to pay attention to before introducing a new product into your diet. Otherwise, a situation may arise in which the amount of carbohydrates will be excessive, as a result of which there will simply be no opportunity to maintain a state of ketosis.

Calories

Quinoa is a high-calorie food, but due to the large amount of amino acids and trace elements, it can be included in various types of diet. So, one serving of the product, which is about 128 grams, contains approximately 222 calories. This should be taken into account when compiling the menu for the day.

How many carbohydrates are there?

Quinoa is not a low-carb food, making its inclusion in the keto diet questionable. In a serving that weighs only 126 grams, there will be about 34 grams of net carbohydrates. This amount can cause the body to exit the state of ketosis.

Benefits and harms of Quinoa

Quinoa is a rather useful product that has a positive effect on overall health and increases a person’s productivity, improves his mood. It is worth considering in more detail the beneficial and harmful properties of the product, which can be noted when consumed.

Benefits

• Quinoa is high in antioxidants. They have a positive effect on the prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system, are useful for vision
• Acceleration of metabolic processes in the body. With regular consumption of quinoa, a significant improvement in metabolism can be noted, which has a positive effect on overall well-being, skin condition, the processes of removing toxins from the body, and so on
• Improving the functioning of internal systems and organs. Quinoa contains a large number of useful trace elements, such as iron. Iron is required for the normal functioning of most internal organs, as well as for maintaining normal hemoglobin levels
• Saturation of the body with folic acid. This is an especially important B vitamin for women who are planning a pregnancy. It also reduces the likelihood of developing depression and certain types of cancer

Harm

The main harm of quinoa is the likelihood of developing an allergic reaction to the product, with all the ensuing consequences.

Excessive consumption of proteins rich in quinoa can negatively affect the functioning of the kidneys and the excretory system as a whole – it is worth being careful and limiting the consumption of the product, especially in the presence of chronic diseases.

Delicious Keto Quinoa Recipe

Quinoa salad with almonds and avocado is a great option for the keto diet. Such a dish is perfectly balanced, but at the same time contains a lot of carbohydrates, and therefore it will be possible to eat it only if you follow a target or cyclic diet.

To prepare the salad you will need : 100 grams of quinoa, 50 grams of almonds, 1 avocado, 100 grams of spinach, 1 bell pepper, 2 tablespoons of any healthy seeds, such as sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 – soy sauce, 1 – honey, salt and pepper to taste.

The preparation process is extremely simple . Quinoa is cooked according to the instructions, and all vegetables are cleaned and cut in random order. After that, the salad is dressed with sauce, which is formed by mixing lemon juice, soy sauce, honey and oil. Salt and pepper are added according to your taste. That’s all, a tasty and healthy salad is ready.

Can quinoa be on a keto diet?

So, can you eat quinoa on a keto diet? – When following the usual classic type of diet, in which consumption of no more than 30 grams of carbohydrates per day is allowed, it is worth abandoning this product due to the peculiarities of its chemical composition. However, in the event that a person adheres to a targeted or cyclical type of diet, quinoa can be included in the nutrition menu.

Target Diet allows up to 50 grams of carbohydrates per day, which means that one of the meals can include a full serving of this product in 128 grams about half an hour to an hour before the start of training.

The cyclical diet requires 1-2 high carbohydrate days per week. These days, a person consumes a large amount of carbohydrates, but at the same time minimizes the amount of fat in foods. This is done to restore the normal amount of glycogen stores.

FAQ

Can quinoa be added to salads?

A few dozen grams of quinoa can be added to a salad if the diet lacks useful amino acids. Such an additive will not cause an exit from the state of ketosis, and at the same time it will positively affect the general condition of the body.

Will there be an amino acid deficiency if I cut out quinoa?

No, it won’t, if a person responsibly approaches the issue of compiling a complete and balanced diet.

Reviews

Classic keto dieters’ opinions are that quinoa should be avoided for best results, as it is high in carbohydrates. Those who decide to leave the product in their diet report worsening results from the diet.

Those people who follow goals or cyclical diets quite often leave this product in the diet to replenish glycogen stores, however, again, the effectiveness of such a diet will not be as pronounced as from following a classic strict diet.

Quinoa pilaf: step by step recipe with photo

Quinoa pilaf is good for lunch, dinner, and even a hot festive table. It goes well with fresh or pickled vegetables, herbs.

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• General\Active cooking time:
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• Servings:
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• Calories (100g):
  140 kcal
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Ingredients:

• Quinoa – 150 g
• Onion – 140 g
• Carrot – 115 g
• Pork – 300 g
• Vegetable oil – 30 g
• Suneli hops – 1 tsp
• Salt – to taste
• Black pepper – ground to taste
• Garlic – 4 teeth
• Water – 1.5 tbsp. (200 ml)

Preparation: Step 1

• Prepare all the foods indicated in the recipe. Pork can be taken a little fatty to add satiety to the finished dish. In general, any meat of your choice will do. Choose spices according to your taste.

• Step 2

  Pour the quinoa seeds into a deep dish. Rinse with cold water, changing it several times. Pour in water and leave for 2 hours. If time is limited, just rinse the cereal.

• Step 3

  When the seeds are ready, you can start cooking. Peel the onion, wash, dry and cut into pieces. Heat oil in a deep frying pan or cauldron. Add onion pieces. Fry for 5-7 minutes over moderate heat.

• Step 4

  Rinse and dry the pork. Cut into small pieces. Add to fried onions. Mix. Cook for 4-5 minutes to lighten the meat.

• Step 5

  Peeled and washed carrots grate on a large grater. Pour the carrot shavings into the pan. Mix. Fry for another 4-5 minutes over medium heat.

• Step 6

  Drain quinoa seeds. Rinse one more time. Add to the rest of the ingredients.

• Step 7

  Add peeled and crushed garlic cloves, suneli hops, salt and ground pepper.