to The Beach, Karen, from a fellow vegetarian Beacher! There are several of us here who are vegetarians, and we have no problem whatsoever following the SBD guidelines. We're pleased to have you joining us, and look forward to getting to know you.
To answer your question, quinoa is a grain and should not be included in your diet until Phase 2. It does contain carbs, and is full of protein. Keep in mind that this is a "good carb" diet, but starchy carbs are to be avoided in Phase 1.