Chia, Chia, Chia Seeds

Over the last eight months, I have been enjoying a new kind of food in my every day diet: chia seeds. 

A friend of mine from Drink Chia introduced the concept to me last December, and I have been teaming up with them ever since as a Mover and Shaker Friend of the brand.

Chia seeds have become a popular additive to yogurts, smoothies, cereals and baked goods for health enthusiasts everywhere.  After seeing them pop up on blogs, in recipes and sprinkled on top of things I eat every day, I quickly stepped on board with the chia seed trend.

So we know chia is popular.  What exactly is the rage?  That’s simple: the health benefits.

Omega-3

Chia seeds are rich in Omega-3 content.  Omega-3 is a fatty acid usually found in foods like plants, chia seeds and fish.

Health benefits of Omega-3 include improved heart, liver and mental health, as well as an improved nerve and immune system.  Omega-3 is a great supplement for pregnant women and provide added benefits for hair, skin and nails.

I used to take a daily Omega-3 supplement, but for the past few months I have replaced my needs for the supplement with chia.

Antioxidant and Superfood

Beyond the Omega-3, chia provides fiber and is labeled under the superfood and antioxidant categories, similar to blueberries, acai, pumpkin and spinach.  The terms basically describe foods high in a variety of nutritious values.

Read more about chia and omega-3 here.

Easy Ways to Incorporate Chia Seeds into your Diet

• Sprinkle on top of breakfast, snacks, and salads.

I often sprinkle them on any type of waffle, toast or bagel and also enjoy them mixed into cereal and oatmeal.

• Add to smoothies, baked goods and bars.

I am just beginning to experiment baking and cooking with chia seeds.  I have a few recipes lined up, and you will find them listed as an ingredient in my favorite smoothies.

• Make homemade jams and puddings.

I see chia and fruit flavored jams featured on blogs a lot and want to start making some for myself.  Chia seeds also create a good texture for overnight oats and puddings.

Pictured below is a new favorite in my refrigerator:

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Although it might look questionable, it tastes delicious and supplies you with more than your daily Omega-3 needs.

Over the past few weeks I have been enjoying this easy chocolate tapioca pudding type of texture in a chia seed pudding.  Enjoy on its own, spread it on top of waffles or use it on the side to dip toast and fruit in.  I found this recipe off of SparkRecipes, and the cocoa flavor tastes great on a variety of foods.

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

6 tbsp chia seeds

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 – 2 tbsp stevia, *to taste

*I used 1 the first time and 2 the second, and both tasted great.

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl with a lid.  Whisk, cover and refrigerate.

2. Open and whisk again every 5-10 minutes.

3. After 30 minutes the mixture should be ready and resemble tapioca pudding.  The longer it sits, the softer it will get.

Where to Buy Chia Seeds

I keep a bag of seeds on hand in my pantry, and you can find them at a local health food market like Whole Foods.

The large bags run a bit on the expensive side, so I also browse on Amazon.com for better deals.

Did you see that last one?  White chia seeds!  They aren’t more expensive… that is a two pack the sell in and I’m officially intrigued.

If you haven’t tried adding a sprinkle or two of chia to your food before, I encourage you to do so.  After a few trials, I completely looked past them and forgot I put them there in the first place.

Questions of the Day

Have you tried chia seeds before?  What are your favorite ways to use them?