Now that winter is here, we love to eat warm cereal for breakfast to start the day off with an ENERGY boost. Growing up, our Mom would make us oatmeal nearly every winter day. But, as much as we love oatmeal, it’s fun to switch it up and try something else. One of our favorite substitutions is quinoa! We eat quinoa both cold with milk and warm like oatmeal. Here’s one of our favorite quick and easy ways to prepare it:

Quick and Easy Spiced Quinoa

Cook quinoa according to package directions (we often do this ahead of time and leave the quinoa in the fridge). Chop one apple up into small cubes. Place in a bowl and sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. If your quinoa is cold, add quinoa to the bowl now. Stir all of the ingredients together. Cook in the microwave on high heat until the apples soften, about 2 minutes. If it’s too hot when it comes out of the microwave, cool down with a splash of low fat or fat free milk. Top with slivered almonds. Enjoy!

And if you make your quinoa and it’s warm, simply mix it with the apples when they come out of the microwave.

Do you eat grains other than oatmeal for breakfast? How do you prepare them?

image from thebarefootcookbook.com