# Microwavable Quinoa Cups 'Q Cups' Make It Easy to Prepare Organic Quinoa in a Cup in Five Minutes By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2016-09-21 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/quinoa-in-a-cup References: [trndmonitor](https://trndmonitor.com/food-spotlight-now-foods-organic-quinoa-on-the-go-q-cups/) & [nowfoods](https://www.nowfoods.com/natural-foods/by-category/q-cups) While it generally only takes somewhere between 10 to 15 minutes to cook quinoa normally on a stovetop, NOW Foods is offering consumers the chance to speed up the process with organic quinoa in a cup. NOW's 'Q Cups' come in plain Organic Quinoa, Savory Garlic & Mushroom and Southwestern Barbecue flavors that make it easy to whip up a quick, healthy and protein-packed base for a lunch or dinner meal. To prepare, the contents of the quinoa cups can be removed and cooked on a stovetop or heated in their original packaging in the microwave. In all, these quinoa cups reduce cooking times to about five minutes. These all-new products from NOW Foods will appeal to a wide range of health-conscious consumers who seek out products that boast organic and [ancient grain ingredients](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/10-minute-farro), as well as [single-serve packaging that doubles as cookware](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/singleserve-rice-cup). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 51% | Activity: 55% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Microwavable Convenience:** The rise of microwavable quinoa cups provides an opportunity for food companies to develop quick and convenient meal options for busy consumers. - **Organic and Ancient Grains:** The demand for organic and ancient grain ingredients in convenient food products presents an opportunity for suppliers to capitalize on the health-conscious consumer market. - **Single-serve Packaging:** The popularity of single-serve packaging that doubles as cookware opens up opportunities for innovative packaging designs that enhance convenience and reduce waste. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Food and Beverage:** The food and beverage industry can explore the development of more microwavable meal options using organic and ancient grain ingredients, targeting busy consumers looking for quick and healthy meal solutions. - **Health and Wellness:** The health and wellness industry can tap into the demand for organic and ancient grain products, promoting their benefits and offering convenient options for consumers seeking nutritious and time-saving meal choices. - **Packaging:** The packaging industry can innovate by creating more eco-friendly and practical single-serve packaging solutions for food products, catering to the growing trend of convenience and sustainability. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [One-Minute Rice Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/minute-rice-cups.md) - [Foodie-Friendly Rice Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/riviana-foods-minute-rice-cups.md) - [Frozen Grab-and-Cook Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/merchant-gourmet-veg-grains-pouches.md) - [Savory Soufflé Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/souffle-cups.md) - [Nutrient-Dense Macaroni Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goodles-microwave-cups.md) - [Bowl-Packaged Rice Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/multigrain-rice-bowls.md) - [Scrambled Egg Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/instant-scrambled-eggs.md) - [Protein-Packed Quick-Serve Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perfect-servings-meals.md) - [Vegan-Friendly Macaroni Meal Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kraft-notmac-cheese-cups.md)