Chia seeds are for more than growing a chia pet Mr. T. (Which I never had and would still to this day love to own.) Chia seeds are the hot healthy food trend of the moment. While they are not the weight loss miracle many claim them to be, they do have a number of health benefits. According to WebMD, one ounce of chia seeds have:
139 calories
4 grams of protein
9 grams of fat (a great source of Omega 3s!)
12 grams of carbs (11 of which are fiber)
They have a nutty flavor and, unlike flaxseed, do not have to be ground up to be properly digested by the body. The fiber helps keep you feeling full and they are a great plant based source of essential fatty acids. They are not a miracle food but they are a wise addition to your daily diet.
But how?
I admit I am a rookie with chia seeds. My recipe is very simple. I mix 1 tbsp chia seeds with 1 tbsp water and let them sit for about 10 minutes. Then I add them to ½ cup thawed frozen blueberries. I mash them up and put them on my Vanilla Coconut Protein Pancakes .
Luckily I have friends who are more creative. Once again my FitFluential teammates have come to my rescue with some great chia seed recipes.
- Lindsey from the Lean Green Blog makes amazing Quinoa Breakfast Bars. Chia and quinoa combine with the egg to give these bars plenty of protein to go along with healthy fat from the chia seeds and peanut butter. The recipe makes 6 bars giving you a balanced and quick breakfast all week long.
- How about a quick strawberry jam for your toast or peanut butter sandwich? Sarah at the Fit Cookie has the easiest jam recipe ever!
- Another great breakfast idea comes from Laura at Sprint2theTable. Try some pudding for breakfast. Chocolate Breakfast Pudding is creamy low sugar protein packed pudding. Sounds like a perfect breakfast on a cozy weekend morning at home.
What about you? Do you have a secret chia recipe you would be willing to share? Or maybe a photo of your chia pet?
