3 Cheers for Chia!

I think it was about 5 years ago that I first discovered chia seeds and started eating them. I seem to go in little spurts with them... eating them often or not at all.  Lately it has been very often.  The more I read about them, the more I realize I need to add them to our diets on a daily basis.

Yes, I said CHIA seeds... those little tiny black seeds that you once may have spread over  the wet body of a clay sheep or a dog or even a kitten... and watched it turn into a green 'furry' CHIA pet as the seeds germinated and grew!

Still available for sale on Amazon!

And sorry for the ear worm....

Back in those days we didn't know the seed was edible; we just thought it was entertaining.

Thank goodness for modern science.  Now we know that chia seeds, once coveted by Aztec warriors, are one of the healthiest foods on the planet. They have nutrients that can have important benefits for our bodies and our brains.  Calorie for calorie, they are one of the best sources in the world of several important nutrients. They are loaded with fiber, protein, Omega-3 fatty acids and various micronutrients.

This is what they look like.

And when they are wet, they thicken somewhat and form sort of a gel.  Some vegans use a chia and water mixture in place of an egg when baking.

I have been experimenting, coming up with different ways to eat them. On their own they are very bland but that just  makes them all the more versatile.   They can be sprinkled on salads, soups, yogurt or cereals...  they can be stirred into muffin batter, cookie dough, protein shakes, smoothie bowls and even salad dressings.  This morning I added some to my husband's favorite white flour pancake mix...

He told me he really liked it! Yay!  I had been adding milled flax seed to it, trying to healthify it somewhat but he didn't care for that add-in very much....

I also love to make chia puddings. Basically you just need to add some chia seed to a milk of your choice, along with your favorite flavor enhancements and a bit of sweetener and allow it to set up for a while in the fridge.

A while back I came up with a simple Coconut Chia Pudding and shared it on my food blog. You can find it here if you are interested...

Coconut Chia Pudding

One of the first protein 'balls' recipes I ever came up with uses chia seeds... these are really tasty little bites and if you like lemon, you will love them.  Find the recipe for Lemon and Chia Raw Protein Ballz on  my food blog here.

Lemon and Chia Raw Protein Ballz

Recently I received a few products from Chosen Foods to sample... a nice assortment and I was really excited to dig in after I opened the package.

I had never seen chia seeds offered this way before.  They are in individual packets, that contain 8g (just over 1/4 ounce) of chia seeds... and they are presented this way so that you can add a whole packet to a bottle of water and enjoy...  easy and convenient and of course, portable. Toss one in your gym bag or tuck it into your pocket.  Next time you need a little energy boost, mix the contents into a bottle of water and sip.

I did shake it a few times to make sure I got most of the seeds out of the bottle as I drank the water. Odd at first, but quite nice, really.

If you haven't given chia seeds a try, I urge you to pick some up soon.  They are low in fat, high in fibre and a really good way to get in your Omega 3 each day.

So, are you on the chia train these days, too?  How do you enjoy them?