Whole Foods Quinoa Salad

One of my new year’s resolutions was to run 10k below 9 min/mile pace. Well, I did it!

I signed up for a Halloween run because I actually have weekends and I wanted to run in costume! I persuaded/coerced my friends into running the 5k and 10k with me (in costume of course).

I wanted a non restrictive outfit so I went as a hula girl with my pink lei, flower, and tropical sports bra. I had to make my hula skirt by hand with crepe streamers since all four stores didn’t have hula skirts (I mean really! It’s Halloween people!). Unfortunately, by the end of the run I only had half a hula skirt left – good thing I wore shorts underneath!

Part of the perks of running is that I don’t feel the urge to pig out afterwards since I’m too tired. But after running this race, I was starving and wolfed this down Whole Food’s Quinoa Salad copycat recipe, adapted from Damn Delicious. I didn’t burn all those calories for nothing!

Whole Foods Quinoa Salad

Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 lemon, juiced
1 mango, peeled and diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup shelled edamame
1/3 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup grated baby coconut
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup craisins

Directions
Cook quinoa according to package instructions.

Whisk together balsamic vinegar and lemon juice to make the dressing.

In a large bowl, combine quinoa, mango, bell pepper, edamame, red onion, coconut flakes, almonds, and craisins. When ready to serve, pour the balsamic vinegar mixture on your salad and enjoy!