Say THAT recipe name 5 times fast!
Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia! Anybody remember those 90’s toys that were called chia pets? You could buy them in any form you wanted- a loved one's face, an animal, a piece of shag carpet maybe? Those were the days, when chia pets were the coveted toy.
Now, though chia pets are around no longer around for pleasure, they are available for your health as we’ve moved on to eating them rather than growing them.
Chia seeds have been around for centuries and were originally used by the people of Mexico for energy boosters. Recently, they’ve become popular in the U.S. for their amazing health benefits. Here’s a few reasons why they’re all the rage and why you should consider adding them to your diet:
They’re extremely high in omega-3 fatty acids (the kind of fat most Americans need more of in their diets)
Good source of non-animal protein which is a more sustainable option than animal protein
High in calcium which supports bone health and can assist in the prevention of osteoporosis
High in antioxidants which can aid in cancer prevention
Great source of fiber which assists in bettering the microbiome
All these health benefits are truly amazing, just be mindful that one of the chia seed's assets is that it's nutrient dense. However, that also means that a lot of calories (and other nutrients) are packed into a small amount of them. In fact, in 2 tablespoons there’s about 140 calories.
Bottom line: Chia seeds have incredible health benefits and are very nutrient dense. When you do eat chia seeds (which I would recommend doing) don’t go hog crazy. A little bit go a long way.
One of my favorite parts in coming up with this recipe was combining so many unique and delicious flavors to make a power packed dessert.
Chai is one of my favorite combinations of spices so whenever I can add it in I always feel like I’m winning. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg- it just doesn’t get much better. Unless of course you add ground cloves, which I didn’t and maybe you should :)
To spice it up even more I added turmeric. I can’t get enough of turmeric these days. It’s full of anti-inflammatory properties, thanks to the curcumin in it. Be sure to not skip out on the black pepper in this recipe because black pepper is what helps your body absorb the curcumin and benefit from all of its wonderful properties.
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk
⅓ cup chia seeds
1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
½ tsp turmeric
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ginger
Pinch of nutmeg
Dash of sea salt and black pepper
Add sweetener to taste (stevia, honey, maple syrup etc)
Optional: orange peel/zest for extra piazzazz - highly recommended
Directions:
Combine all ingredients into bowl. Whisk to combine. Refrigerate for 3 hours, or preferably overnight. Serve and enjoy!
Taste and see that the chia pudding is good!
Need further recipe support or tips on how to cook? I'd love to help! Just click "let's do this thing" or "reach out" on my website at www.honestnutritioncda.com
Mikyah, RD, LD