RECIPE: Chia Seed Pudding

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! Remember those commercials? Yep! These are the seeds from those infamous chia pets, but before you go back to planting them on Homer Simpson's head (oh yes, that exists) hear me out. When I'm through with you, you will want to eat them all day, everyday!


Chia Seeds:

• Are high in fiber! Meaning this cereal will keep you full for hours. No more mid morning snacking! (this is a huge one for me)
• Contain more antioxidants than blueberries. Antioxidants fight off free radicals (atoms with unpaired electrons) in the body. When electrons are unpaired they are unstable and wreak havoc in the body causing DNA damage and can lead to cell death and cancer. This is why you need antioxidants to protect from these radical cells!  
• Are a great source of omega 3s. Omega 3s are essential for good health and since your body is unable to make them on it's own you have to get them through diet. Omegas control blood clotting, build cell membranes in the brain, and they help protect against heart disease, cancer and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. 
• Are often called "runners food" because they are incredibly hydrating, making them great for before or after a workout. (which is why I always have chia seeds in my breakfast before my run!)
• Can be eaten so many different ways!! Chia pudding, thrown in smoothies & oatmeal, sprinkled on top of toast, ice cream, cereal, whatever your little heart desires. You can even throw them in juice and wait for them to gel up!

I am going to give you my recipe for my personal favorite way to eat them- PUDDING! Cause it tastes like dessert, but it's healthy!! Did I mention how easy it is to make?! It takes all of less than 5 minutes! Also, my way doesn't contain any refined sugars, only natural sugars from fruit so you can totally eat it for breakfast and not feel an ounce of guilt about it. DESSERT FOR BREAKFAST! Yes please.

CHIA SEED PUDDING

• 1/2 cup chia seeds
• 2 cups of unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 4 dates
• 1 ripe banana (the riper the better)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pure vanilla
• a few grinds of himalayan pink salt

1. Blend the almond milk, dates, banana, cinnamon, vanilla and pink salt very well. 

2. Throw the chia seeds in a bowl and pour the blended mixture over them and stir until they are fully immersed in the liquid. 

3. Let it sit in the fridge for at least 2 hours, but feel free to leave it overnight in the fridge. Chia seeds, when immersed in liquid, form a little gel over their seed that has a tapioca like texture to it. Voila, PUDDING! 

4. Top with anything you'd like: dark chocolate chips, cacao nibs, shredded coconut, berries, or just enjoy it plain!

(You can make this same recipe a thousand different ways with different ingredients. Feel to experiment around with them! Chocolate and Peanut Butter are personal favs of mine to throw in there).

RealFoodeas: My favorite snacks

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a real snacker. I pretty much always have some sort of snack with me in my purse or schoolbag because I never want to be stuck somewhere starving and forced to eat something I wouldn't normally eat just because I was hungry! These are my favorite snacks at the moment.

New Earth Chipotle Chia Crackers

I straight up have a love affair with these crackers. They can get pricey so I only buy them on occasion and ration them out when I do but they are so delicious!! A little spicy, a lot delicious and raw! They have a nice crunch to them and are great dipped into hummus or eaten on the side with a salad. Not to mention they are full of ingredients you can feel good about like chia seeds (omegas & fiber!) and buckwheat (fiber and protein) so you won't feel guilty munching hard on these. 

Navitas Naturals Golden Berries

Natures sour patch kids. Need I say more? I eat at least a handful of these a day sometimes mixed with some raw nuts. They taste like sour candy but have no added sugar, they're just dried berries! They have been recommended by holistic doctors to be eaten in place of a multivitamin because they are loaded with Vitamins A-C & B complex (You can read more about them here). They are a great way to trick your body into loading up on powerful antioxidants and Vitamins but your tongue will think they are candy. Win win! 

Navitas Naturals Goji Berries

These berries are loaded full of powerful antioxidants to help your body fight off disease. They are also full of Vitamin A, Iron and Vitamin C to boost your immune system! (You can read more about their health benefits here). I have to admit they may take a few tries to get used to, so don't give up after your first try, they taste like fruit snacks to me now! They are especially delicious when eaten with raw almonds. Also worth noting, they are a bit pricey up front but if you eat just a handful a day the bag will last you several weeks. 

Mary's Gone Crackers: Sticks & Twigs Chipotle Tomato

These little sticks have a nice kick to them thanks to the chipotle! They are loaded with fiber and omega 3's thanks to the chia seeds so they are sure to keep you full in between meals. I like these a lot because they are GMO free and have minimal ingredients (no additives or preservatives). They are extra delicious dipped in hummus.

Organic Apples

I make it a point to eat at least one Organic Apple a day. We all know the saying....an apple a day keeps the doctor away....it's true! They are full of Vitamin C (great for immune boosting) and are said to help protect the body from cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. A really good pink lady or fuji apple can satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth and they are full of fiber so they are great for keeping you full in between meals. 

Raw Almonds

I love these New Earth almonds because they are raw and activated (meaning they are soaked for 12 hours to deactivate the enzyme inhibitors that nuts contain as a defense mechanism, which are hard for us to digest) then topped with Himalayan pink salt! (salt full of the 84 natural minerals and elements found in the human body- great for controlling water levels in the body, promotes stable pH balance and helps with blood sugar levels, just to name a few benefits of it!) This particular brand can get pricey (and may only be in Austin??) but I'm sure you can find raw, activated almonds in the bulk section of your local natural food store. 

Organic Dark Chocolate

I have a bit of an addiction to dark chocolate. I have a square of dark chocolate (71% or higher) almost everyday. Lucky for my dark chocolate loving self, chocolate actually has health benefits! It is full of some of the highest antioxidants known to man and also healthful fats. The higher the cacao content the better so go for 71% or higher for optimal health benefits. (You can read more about those benefits here)

Kind Bars

I am generally a huge hater of food bars. Most are full of crap and loaded with sugar, but sometimes when you are in a hurry a food bar can be a really convenient way to tide you over! I like Kind bars because they are GMO-free, gluten free and made with minimal ingredients, all of which you can feel good about. They also taste absolutely delicious! Beware because some are loaded with sugar, so look for ones with lower sugar content. My favorite flavors are: Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt, Nut Delight and Almond & Coconut. 

Hail Merry Chocolate Macaroons

More of a dessert than a snack, but I have been known to snack on these in the past. :)

They are incredibly good and made with minimal ingredients. The health benefits from the raw coconut oil  they contain are almost endless. Including Cholesterol level maintenance, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion & metabolism and relief from kidney issues, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. You can read more about coconut oil's benefits here. As always be mindful of your portions because of the sugar, but at least it is maple syrup and not refined sugar!

Happy snacking and until next time.....to your health!

Courtney

Always Bring Snacks With You

Saturday afternoon I went to a winery in the hill country with some friends. I didn't know when I would be back or what kind of food they would have there (if any) so I brought this arsenal of snacks with me just in case! I always have at least one snack with me at all times when I'm out and about for the day so that in the off chance I get hungry I have something healthy and organic to eat. My favorite go-to snack is an organic pink lady apple and raw almonds.

Pictured Above: 

New Earth Chipotle Chia Crackers (these are my FAVORITE snack)

Raw Revolution 100 bar in Spirulina Dream

1 Cup of non-GMO Skinny Pop

1 square of Whole Foods Organic Dark Chocolate