V for Veg: Keen on quinoa.

Byline: Vance Lehmkuhl

Aug. 11--"THE QUESTION" has been around for a while. Back in the mid-'80s, I must have been vegetarian for a good 72 hours before I first heard it. You know the one: "Where do you get your protein?" I guess the logical equation for meat-eaters is that, since meat is rich in protein, a diet without it must be deficient in this essential nutrient, unless there's some secret, quasi-magical source veggie folks have for procuring it. Well, folks, yes, there is indeed a secret, quasi-magical source of veggie protein, and I'm going to break the code of silence and share it with you. Ready? It's quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah). Used as a grain but …