Ch Ch Chia

No, not the pet plant… Forget about my last post, this is the real craze that even has my parents hooked.  My brother included, one of the most health conscious people I know, has asked me for the chia seed pudding recipes.  Chia seed pudding is a great alternative to oatmeal especially in the spring and summer months.  It is light and airy but has a little crunch and packs a lot of energy. You can make it at night to enjoy the next morning or mix it when you first wake up and pack it for an early morning snack at work.

I heard about chia seeds in the past but it wasn’t until one of my friends was working the Iron Man Triathlon needed someone to market a chia seed product, so he sent me a bunch of information that I looked over and was very surprised at the nutritional benefits from such a tiny seed.  Great source of Omega-3 oil, high in protein, calcium and zinc, antioxidant, and aids digestion.  No wonder these triathlon-ers need such a nutrient for their body.  I would have this ‘superfood’ as a pregame meal back when I was playing basketball in college – could’ve sprinkled this stuff over everything in Eickhoff (TCNJ shout out).  Now I use it as a quick and easy breakfast or work snack which keeps me surprisingly filled and that is tough to do!  Studies have also led researchers to believe that it may help with sleep, so have it for dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Pictured are two of my favorite recipes 🙂

Chia seeds + coconut milk + cocoa powder till dark brown + chopped up bananas folded into the mixture & topped + coconut panko crumbs & honey on top

Chia seeds + coconut milk + frozen and thawed berry & cherry mix from Trader Joes (or any frozen/fresh fruit you would like) + vanilla extract + honey  — On the side is a GF cran-apple-oat muffin from The Bread Co. in Montclair, NJ – no added sweetener, tart taste, delish!

Worried about the price? Purchase chia seeds from Trader Joe’s or any market when they are on sale or look in Marshalls, TjMaxx, and Homegoods for less expensive brands.  This bag cost $9.99 and has lasted myself and my parents well over a month.  I have been making the 3 of us batches of pudding that last us a week.

Measurements:

Bigger batches – 3 C almond/coconut milk : 1 C chia seeds                                                        This is the exact measurement I made for mine today which consisted of 1 C almond milk, 2 C coconut milk, 1tsp vanilla extract, sprinkled cocoa powder and some cinnamon over the top

Smaller batch – 1 C : ~1/2 C chia seeds (I say around 1/2 C because you may need to sprinkle in some more depending on how thick it becomes, which you can usually tell after 5-10 minutes of stirring and letting it sit)

Have a recipe you’d like to share? Let me know!  I came across Chai chia seed pudding and others topped with different fruit – always looking to try something new.