Chia seeds pudding with berries

As many of my followers know I’m doing the Paleo Diet, and one of the things I discovered with this new lifestyle were the Chia Seeds and the only think I can say is that you can do yummy desserts with this seeds!  They  are awesome with fresh berries, mango, banana, nuts, coconut flaxs or with chocolate. You can do hundreds of different combinations and it’s the perfect breakfast when you are in a rush because you can prepare in the night before.

The best part of it is that they are very good for you:

“Chia is an edible seed that comes from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, a member of the mint family that grows abundantly in southern Mexico. In pre-Columbian times they were a main component of the Aztec and Mayan diets and were the basic survival ration of Aztec warriors. I’ve read that one tablespoon was believed to sustain an individual for 24 hours. The Aztecs also used chia medicinally to stimulate saliva flow and to relieve joint pain and sore skin.” – Quoted from Dr.Weil!

When people asked me about the flavour I need to be honest, it is very mild and almost non-existent. When they are combined with liquid they start to form a gel-like consistency, that I just love it! I normally use skinny coconut milk and honey and vanilla and the flavour it’s super yummy!But you can also mixed in things like smoothies or oatmeal.

My favourite way to eat this seeds it’s chia pudding and is an awesome first-timer recipe because you’ll get a real sense of their absorption power, the gel-like texture they create and their ability to help keep you full. It’s really amazing how Chia seeds can absorb 9 times their weight in liquid, but for making chia pudding I like to stick with a 1:6 ratio. So I do 3 Tablespoons of chia seeds to 1 cup of liquid for a single serving.

For two jars you will need:

6 tablespoon of chia seeds

2 cups of  coconut or almond milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1 teaspoon of honey

Fresh berries or jam

Almonds or homemade granola

I always buy the organic chia seeds but you can go for a cheaper option:

Recipe: 

1. In a bowl or mason jar, mix together chia seeds, milk, honey/maple syrup and vanilla. If you’re using a mason jar, you can put the lid on and shake the mixture to combine everything.

2. Once the chia pudding mixture is well combined, let it sit for 5 minutes, give it another stir/shake to break up any clumps of chia seeds.

3. You can cover and put the mixture in the fridge to “set-up” for 1-2 hours. Or you just can prepare your breakfast for the next day with a yummy jam or fresh fruit and granola. 

For the jam you will need:

- cup of strawberries 

- 1/2 cup of another type of berries

- 1 tablespoon of honey

- 1 teaspoon of vanilla

-1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon ( optional )

- 4 tablespoon of water (you can add more if you want your jam to be more liquid )

Recipe:

1. Put all the ingredients in your thermomix or in a pan and cook for 7 min/100 degrees/ vel.2

2. In the end you can blend the jam or leave it like that,

You can always do more quantity and frozen the jam. I do that all the time so I always have a yummy option for my pancakes or waffles.

3. When ready to serve, divide the jam between two bowls, 

4. Add the chia pudding with berries and granola and enjoy.

The best way to start your day!!!

Some interesting facts about this seeds:

1. The pudding will keep for about 5 days in the fridge, so if you whip a batch up on Sunday, you'll be on track to a happier, smarter and prettier you by Friday!

2. Chia seeds may help you sleep. Chia seeds are tiny bundles of tryptophan, according to sharecare.com, and that amino acid raises melatonin and serotonin levels. These are the hormones that support stable sleep.

3. Two tablespoons of chia seeds have almost 10 grams of fiber. ... Diets high in fiber have been linked to weight loss. According to 2015 research, eating 30 grams of fiber daily may help you lose as much weight as if you followed a more complicated diet.

4. Chia seeds (salvia hispanica) are high in linoleic acid, a fatty acid that helps the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. For such a tiny seed, chia is quite high in healthy fats, boasting more omega-3s than salmon.

5. Chia seeds give you stable energy because of their great ratio of protein, fats and fiber combined with the fact that they're low-carb,” Brown raves. “They won't causespikes and drops in blood sugar or insulin levels, preventing cravings and overeating later.