Monday, January 13, 2014

Chia Seed Pudding


It is definitely January.  The holiday decorations are dismantled, the deep freeze is here, and it seems everywhere you look there are reminders to put down the cookies and start eating better.  Every year however, this looks like a fad, where people jump on board for a couple months and then revert to their old eating habits and start neglecting the gym.  Then, by March, we're all back where we started, perhaps a little more disappointed and less hopeful.  My guess for why this happens?  Because the "resolutioners" as they are often referred to, aren't adopting a healthier lifestyle over all, but rather making abrupt and major changes that aren't sustainable.  

Last year I had the great pleasure of meeting Seattle based personal trainer and wellness coach, Mary Little.  I have encountered many different personal trainers and nutritionists over time and Mary's approach to her lifestyle has been the easiest for me, a insanely food obsessed freak, to relate to.  I firmly believe that the reason behind that is because Mary's approach isn't about "diet", it isn't about working out until you break- it's about a lifestyle that incorporates many different types of exercise, loads of delicious meals that utilize all different ingredients, flavors and textures, but all that pack an incredible nutrient punch, and a generally fun disposition.  Mary runs a Facebook page entitled Wellness by Little where she posts all sorts of helpful hints for achieving your best, healthiest self, and lots of delicious recipes that bring together great flavors and incredible vitamins, minerals and nutrients.  

A while ago Mary posted about Chia Seed Pudding.  Chia Seeds are the seeds of
the herb Lamiaceae, an herb in the mint family.  It is now grown basically only for the seeds, the Chia Seed, which was named by the Aztecs, with the word "Chia" meaning strength.  Strong is a great word for the Chia Seed- it is known as a super food, with these little seeds being high in Omega-3s, Calcium, Fiber, Anti-Oxidants and Protein.  This mix makes them not only an incredibly valuable addition to your diet to use in keeping you healthy, they are also incredible effective in curbing hunger, making weight loss even easier. 

Now Chia Seeds are one of those things that I see in my grocery store but have never bought despite knowing that they have incredible nutritional value, mainly because I haven't been sure what to do with them.  So when I saw the words Chia Seed and Pudding in one recipe header I thought I'd finally found the answer to my problems.  Thank you Ms. Mary!  

Chia Seed Pudding is incredibly delicious- reminding me strongly of the ever delicious rice pudding, or even tapioca, tasting incredibly decadent but actually being a perfect breakfast food or snack.

Mary's Chia Seed Pudding
Photo courtesy of Mary Little


1/2 cup chia 
1 cup almond milk 
Blueberries 
1 1/2 teaspoons maple syrup 
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all of the ingredients together, let rest, stir about a half hour later just to ensure no clumping and then let rest again for 4 hours or over night.  Simple.

I, of course cannot stick to a recipe so I made a similar version with a few variations.  I had cows milk (fat free) in the house so I subbed in that for the almond milk, and then added chopped almonds and dried cranberries.  

    

3 comments:

A Blahstonian said...

Looks great! Chia seeds can be found in Whole foods, say? Trying to find ways to do new things and spice up life....and cooking. (Blahston@Blogspot.com).

Boston Food Diary said...

I found mines at Shaws but I've seen them at Whole Foods as well and I'd be willing to bet they are at Trader Joes as well!

Michelle Rago said...

Oh I want to try this!

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