Quinoa & Black Bean Stuffed Peppers

I think Meatless Monday is a very good idea for everyone, but particularly for families that typically wouldn’t consider embracing a vegetarian diet. There are so many tasty vegetarian recipes that everyone in the family, even kids, would thoroughly enjoy, and by merely serving one meatless meal a week, they will learn that meat is not necessary for a meal to be complete.

Quinoa is actually a seed and not a grain, but it is a powerhouse of nutrition because it offers complete protein. Black beans are also an excellent source of protein and fiber. These peppers are easy to assemble, very satisfying, and full of flavor, making them a great choice for Meatless Monday. You can also play around with the ingredients used in the filling depending on your family’s preferences to ensure everyone in the family will love these peppers. To ensure these peppers are full of flavor, I like to use fire roasted tomatoes in this dish. I like to top these stuffed peppers with some shredded Pepper Jack cheese to seal in the filling, and add a cheesy goodness that will appeal to kids.

• Tomatoes are a source of vitamin A, vitamin C, dietary fiber and a great source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.
• Black beans are high in fiber and a good source of low fat protein.
• Quinoa (aka Super Seed) is a gluten free seed that provides a complete protein as well as iron, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, vitamin E, and folic acid.