Chia Seed Breakfast Recipe

Good Morning!

Today, I started my day with a new recipe that I found using my favorite new "super food", Chia seeds.  This was a welcome change from my typical norm....Oatmeal.  Very crunchy and fun!  I used coconut/almond milk, fresh banana & strawberries, walnuts & almonds, coconut & honey.  I omitted the spices today, but I'm sure they add some amazing flavor, too.  Here is the recipe:

Chia seed breakfast recipe. 

3 Tablespoons chia seeds

2/3 cup milk of choice

Handful of fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc..)

1 tablespoon of walnuts or slivered almonds

1 teaspoon of shredded or flaked coconut (optional)

1 pinch of cinnamon

1 pinch of cardamom

Drizzle of honey or sweetener of choice 

INSTRUCTIONS

In a bowl, mix the chia seeds with the milk. Let sit for at least 10 minutes so that the chia seeds soak up the liquid. If you are in a rush, you can heat the seeds with the milk in a pot which will expedite the absorption process. 

Once the liquid is absorbed, top with berries, nuts, spices, coconut flakes, and honey. Enjoy!

Here is some general info on the health benefits of Chia seeds:

1. Help weight loss. Chia seeds are popular for weight loss. They reduce food cravings by preventing some of the food that you eat from getting absorbed into your system. This blockage of calorie absorption makes them a great diet helper.
2. Feel fuller faster: They can also help your diet by making you feel full. This is because they absorb 10 times their weight in water, forming a bulky gel.
3. Hydration for athletes: They are also great for athletes because the "chia gel" can hydrate the body.
4. Reduce your blood pressure: There's evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure.
5. Omega-3: They are the richest plant source of Omega-3 (the vital fats that protect against  inflammation—such as arthritis—and heart disease). In fact, they contain more Omega-3 than salmon!
6. Benefits for diabetes: Because chia seeds slow down how fast our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugars, studies indicate they can control blood sugar. This leads scientists to believe chia seeds may have great benefits for diabetics.
7. They are easier to digest than flax seeds, and don't need to be ground up.