Hey Chicks,
I have a new addiction…cha cha chia!! No not growing those chia pets from the 70’s (even though it is the same seed!) but eating this delicious little seed that can easily be mistaken at first glance as a larger poppy seed.
Creamy, velvety, breakfast parfait goodness!
One of my fave ways to eat chia is as a breakfast pudding. If you like the velvety texture of rice or tapioca pudding, you will LOVE this! It can be made the night before in 30 seconds, will keep you full for HOURS and is absolutely delish (it feels like you are eating dessert for breakfast!) but first let’s learn a little more on these nutrition powerhouses:
What are chia seeds?
Just in case you get aske at trivia, here is a little run down of Chia seeds:
- One of the world’s most ancient superfoods, having been cultivated by the Aztecs and thought to be used since roughly 3500 BC
- Come in 2 varieties: white (also known as Salba) and black
- Are actually part of the mint family (who knew?!)
- Is a fave under “Livin la Vida FIT CHICK” Principle 2: Eat real, whole foods made with love for its yummy uses and natural state 🙂
Now you know what is chia is, why do I heart it so much?
- Super high source of Omega 3 fats (approx 19-25% of its weight is this healthy fat!) which means it is great for heart health, brilliant brain food and keeps cells healthy
- High in soluble fibre for balanced blood sugar, keep you regular and manage weight
- It’s a complete source veggie protein, meaning it contains all the essential amino acids you need for good health!
- Absorb up to 12 times their weight to keep you fuller longer!
This gel is magic!
But not only is it a super food, but it has so many super cool uses. How you ask? Because chia is magic! When you add a liquid to it and let it sit for a couple of minutes, chia turns into a “gel” that your body loves – inside and out! This”gel” is very gentle on your tummy and binds to toxins to helps your body to eliminate all the nasties. It’s like a gentle wash for your insides and can be used in cooking for so many different things.
CHICKTASTIC CHOCOLATE CHIA PUDDING
Makes 4 servings
- 1 cup coconut milk (you can also use almond milk)
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1 Tbsp raw cacao powder or reg cocoa powder
- 1 Tbsp of coconut sugar, honey or stevia
- mix in fruit of choice (i like bananas, strawberries & raspberries)
- Top with chopped almonds or walnuts
Directions
- Pour milk into bowl and whisk in cocoa powder and sweetner of choice. Stir in chia seeds.
- Cover and refridgerate for 4 hours. It will have turned into a jello type pudding.
- Scoop into serving bowls and top with bananas, raspberries and strawberries. Sprinkle with almonds.
CHICK TIP
- Don’t like “tapioca like” consistency of the pudding? Blend your finished pudding in blender or food processor to grind the seeds down until texture is smooth.
- Take it on the road! You can make it anywhere on the fly like at work. Simply add 2 tbsp to 6-8 tbsp of milk in a mug and let sit for 15 min. S
- Mix up your flavours! Sub cocoa for vanilla bean, nut butter or even pumpkin spice. The possibilities are endless:)
- Buy in Bulk! Not sure if you will like chia? Buy a small amount in bulk to give it a whirl before you commit:)
So chicks – add this delish pudding to your breakfast rotation! You tummy will be full until lunch and your body will thank you 🙂
Have a fab day,
Laura, your head chick xo
PS. Don’t forget chicks – Countdown to Summer Bootcamp starts Apr 8 and you can save $50 when you sign up by March 31st so get on it before it’s too late!
