Did you know?
Chia seeds (yes - the same seeds that we used to grow funny plants with) are edible and packed full of nutrition?! These tiny seeds contain calcium, fiber, iron, magnesium, protein, and the healthy omega-3 fatty acid, Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). By adding in 1/4 cup+ of chia seeds to our daily diet we can get a HUGE boost of nutrients and possibly see improvements in blood pressure, inflammation, and blood sugar regulation.
Here are some great ways to get these tasty, nutty-flavored seeds into your diet:
- Shake on salads, cereal, and eggs
- Use in place of breadcrumbs to thicken meatballs
- Grind and add to protein shakes, yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes and waffles
- You can even substitute chia seeds for up to a 1/4 cup of oil in baked goods without significantly changing the flavor!
With a 1/4 cup of seeds putting out 8 mg of iron, 10 grams of fiber, and 180 mg of calcium - what’s not to love? Get cha-cha-cha-chia’ing’!
Check out this healthy pudding recipe from WellnessMama.com:
Healthy Pudding
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of coconut milk or other milk
- 1/2 cup chia seeds
- 2-3 tablespoons cocoa powder (or to taste) (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon or more sweetener of choice (optional)- We use honey or a few drops of stevia tincture.
Directions:
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. It will thicken in about 10 minutes in the refrigerator.
There are endless flavor variations. You can omit the cocoa powder and vanilla and add a cup of strawberries for a strawberry version, or add cinnamon and nutmeg for a Chai Chia Pudding.
