Featured Menu Item of the Week

Amaranth

Dining Services is proud of the fresh, nutritious, and allergen-free offerings available at The DASH at both Holmes Hall and Tobey-Kendel Dining Room. Every day for lunch, brunch, and dinner, you can find fresh meats, vegetables, grains, and beans prepared using healthy cooking techniques that optimize flavor without the excessive use of fats or oils. One of the challenges to this area is creating variety and combinations of foods that are exciting, flavorful, and also healthy and allergen-free.

The DASH items have been approved by the Smart Meal™ program which focuses on lowering sodium and increasing the amount of whole grains and vegetables in the daily diet. Whole grains often are derived from the wheat family which cannot be served out of The DASH due to gluten sensitivities. We rely on other whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and corn. We started using something new this year... we added Amaranth to our menus.

Amaranth is a tiny grain of broadleaf plants (similar to sunflowers) that grow five to seven feet tall. This grain was highly revered by the Aztecs prior to the Spanish conquest in 1519, and it was used to make tortillas long before corn was cultivated. The Spanish banished Amaranth during the conquest because it was used to feed the Aztec soldiers. It was a major food source and therefore considered sacred. Because of this, all fields of the grain were destroyed. Growing or even owning seeds of the grain were forbidden, and penalties were severe for those caught breaking those rules. Thankfully some seeds did survive.

The grain is again regaining popularity in today’s culture that is looking for new sources of nutritious foods. Amaranth is often seen in the form of flour in gluten free items and as a whole grain. In just 1/2 cup of grain, it can supply 28% of daily requirements for protein, 60% for dietary fiber, 18% for calcium, and 55% for iron. It is low in saturated fats and high in lysine, cysteine, methionine, and essential amino acids needed for brain maintenance. Amaranth has the highest quantity of protein by percentage, more dietary fiber, and more calcium than any other grain. Amaranth is perfect for those adhering to gluten free diets, as these nutrients can be difficult to obtain when excluding other cereal grains. Recent studies have even linked amaranth to reduction in cholesterol.

Today, Amaranth is grown in Mexico, Peru, Nepal, and the United States - including right here in Colorado. Amaranth has a slightly sweet, nutty, and toasted flavor. It does not have the fluffy texture of rice or quinoa, but it tends to be creamy when cooked.

We hope you give this grain a try and enjoy knowing that you are eating something that has a long history in developing culture and is also good for you. You can find Amaranth on the menu at Tobey-Kendel this week on The DASH for lunch on Wednesday, November 4th.

Check out The DASH line (and the Smart Meal™ program) at both Holmes Dining Hall and Tobey-Kendel Dining Room!

Other exciting items to look for this week:

Tobey-Kendel Dining Room

  • Thursday, 11/5/09 @ Dinner
    • Cuban Ropa Vieja with Black Beans and Rice
  • Friday, 11/6/09 @ Lunch
    • Sushi Bar with Miso Soup

Holmes Dining Hall

  • Monday, 11/2/09 @ Lunch
    • Gyros or Falafel Pitas with Tzatziki Sauce
  • Sunday, 11/8/09 @ Dinner
    • Braised Beef Ragout
    • Penne Pasta Bowls

University Center Food Court

  • Tuesday, 11/3/09 @ Lunch
    • Chicken Tortellini Pesto with Sausage and Peppers
  • Thursday, 11/5/09 @ Lunch
    • Carved Turkey with Sweet Potatoes

Enjoy!

Don’t forget to look at our menus to see what other fabulous menu items await you this week. Information gathered from: jeffersoninstitute.org and amaranthinstitute.org