Chi Chi Chi Chia
I have grown to love chia pudding. It’s creamy, comforting and satisfying. It’s super simple to make and easy to customize to your tastes. Made ahead of time, it’s an easy to grab breakfast when you’re on the go. It also makes a great snack or dessert. My clients often ask me for ideas for alternative breakfast options for eggs and oatmeal… two of the most common breakfast items for many. Chia pudding can be a nice addition to the breakfast rotation. Here are some of chia seed’s amazing health benefits:
Chia Seeds Are A Great Low Carb and Naturally Gluten Free Food: They contain only 1 gram of net carbs per ounce which makes them great low carb option. They also make a great gluten-free option for pudding, porridge and oatmeal.
Chia Seeds Are Packed with Protein: With 4 grams of protein per ounce, Chia seeds are about 14% protein, which is more than most other plant proteins.
Chia Seeds are a High Fiber Food: Fiber helps feed the healthy bacteria in your gut. A healthy gut supports immunity and overall wellness. Not to mention they can help keep you regular and help with constipation.
Chia Seeds Can Help You Lose Weight: The high fiber content absorbs water and expands in your stomach, making you feel full longer. This in combination with their protein content help with satiety and could help reduce apetite.
Chia Seeds Are Great For Your Skin: Chia seeds are full of antioxidants which protect the skin by limiting the production of the free radicals that damage skin cells.
Chia Seeds Are Good For Your Bones: Chia seeds are high in calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and protein… all important for bone health. They have more calcium than most dairy products. Just one ounce provides 18% of the recommended amount for adults.
Chia Seeds Are High In Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Chia seeds contain healthy, anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats which are can help decrease joint overall inflammation.
Chia Seeds Can Help Keep Blood Sugar Stable: The fiber and protein in chia help keep your blood sugar in balance allowing you to get off the blood sugar roller coaster that contributes to metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
Chia Seeds Make Delicious Pudding Which Is Easy To Make!
Chia Pudding
Ingredients
2 cups unsweetened almond milk (use a bit less so you can add everything into a pint sized mason jar). You can substitute ¼ - ½ cup of full fat coconut milk or heavy cream to make it creamy. Or you can use full fat coconut milk and water.
4 tablespoons chia seeds
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ - 1 tsp teaspoon organic vanilla extract or ¼ teaspoon vanilla bean
2 teaspoons dark maple syrup or raw honey (optional and to taste)
Pinch of sea salt
1 scoop collagen peptides (optional)
1 Tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
1 Tablespoon slivered almonds (optional)
1 Tablespoon gluten free oats (optional)
1 tablespoon raw cacao powder (optional if you want a chocolate pudding)
1 pint glass mason jar with lid
Put everything except the chia seeds in the pint mason jar. Then add the chia seeds on top. Cover and shake vigorously until all the chia seeds are well dispersed in the liquid. You will need to shake every minute or so for about 7 minutes to prevent the seeds from settling to the bottom of the jar. Once the seeds are completely suspended in the liquid (they are no longer sinking to the bottom of your jar) you can refrigerate. Let sit for several hours or overnight.
Enjoy!
Note: Serve with berries, nuts, seeds or nut butter, shredded coconut or homemade stewed fruit. If you top it with some berries prior to letting it sit, the berry flavor will infuse into the pudding as it sits.
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