Quinoa contains 34 grams of net carbs per cooked cup (185 grams). It’s also high in antioxidants and contains all nine of the essential amino acids that your body needs. A 1-cup serving of quinoa has 222 calories, 39g carbs, and 8g protein.

Understanding the Context

It also has healthy fiber, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Most of the macronutrients in quinoa are carbs. One hundred grams of quinoa contains 21.3g of carbs, which covers 7% of the daily need (in the case of a 2000-calorie diet). Couscous and quinoa have similar textures and can both be healthy choices, but quinoa is less processed, more nutrient-dense, and gluten-free.

Key Insights

1 cup of quinoa (raw) contains 626 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 70% carbs, 15% fat, and 15% protein. This is a good source of protein (43% of your Daily Value), fiber (43% of your Daily Value), and potassium (20% of your Daily Value). See what a complete, balanced meal plan looks like. One cup of cooked quinoa has about 39 g total carbs, including around 5 g fiber, leaving about 34 g digestible carbs.

Final Thoughts

Quinoa gets talked about like a protein food, yet most of its calories still come from carbohydrates. The answer is straightforward: yes, quinoa contains carbohydrates. However, the type and amount of carbs in quinoa make it unique compared to many other grains. A typical cooked serving of quinoa—about half a cup or 92 grams—contains roughly 21 grams of carbohydrates. With an increasing inclination towards health and fitness, people are gradually making healthier choices; and two such common fad foods that have paved their way to the urban diet are Quinoa and Dalia ...