Quinoa and Beet Salad

Quinoa.  Sounds too healthy to be good!  Beets?  How do you eat more of these healthy foods without feeling like you're at a boot camp?  I am trying to add more veggies and protein to my diet,  which inspired me to make this salad--it came out pretty tasty!  The best part is that you can tailor it to your tastes and take out whatever you want or add other veggies you have on hand. Here's what I did...
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cooked quinoa
One package of Trader Joe's precooked beets, chopped into bite-sized pieces.
Three green onions, chopped
Two mini bell peppers,  chopped (yellow and red)
Handful of cilantro, chopped
6 mint leaves, chopped
One lime, squeezed on top
Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
Plenty of salt and freshly ground pepper

Mix well and adjust seasonings to preference.

I love this salad.  It's a great side dish or one dish light meal.  The beets have a lovely earthy flavor and the quinoa almost reminds me of cous cous and adds a nice texture to the salad. It is nice and filling from the fiber in the bell peppers and the protein from the quinoa!  I imagine some feta or goat cheese would be lovely in this salad too.  Just experiment with the flavors and veggies you like.  You can even add avocado for a nice creamy bonus or some toasted pine nuts for more crunch!

Enjoy!