Chia is such a beneficial addition to any diet, and yes, it’s that same little seed used to turn a piece of clay into a cute green animal.  Have you considered eating it?  It’s an excellent food for weight loss with its high fiber content allowing you to feel full without over-eating.  It absorbs 10 times its own weight in water, forming a gel that works as a gentle intestinal cleanser.  By weight, chia has more calcium than milk, more omega-3’s than salmon and more antioxidants than blueberries.  The list goes on and on.  To me, none of that really matters unless you whip them up into something super yummy like this sweet & spicy vanilla pudding.  Combined here with the superfood hemp seed, you’ve got yourself a powerhouse of a breakfast, snack or dessert that tastes great!

Chia Pudding

2 cups of pure water

6 tablespoons hemp seeds

¼ cup raw honey

2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 vanilla bean

2 teaspoons cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

pinch of sea salt

6 tablespoons chia seed

¼ cup raisins, optional

In a blender, combine water, hemp, honey, coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  Blend to make a smooth cream.  Pour into a medium sized bowl.  Add chia seeds to the bowl and whisk to combine.  Let the pudding sit for 20-30 minutes allowing the chia to absorb the liquid.  Stir a couple of times to avoid lumps.  Add raisins if desired.  Makes 2 cups.

Natalia

Natalia is the chef/owner of Glowing Temple, a raw and living foods inspiration, creation and education service based in Sarasota, Florida. She strives to create recipes focusing on local and seasonal ingredients and never compromises when it comes to organics. Natalia wishes to share the joy she has discovered through a clean, green diet. Recently, she created an organic live & vegan menu for Mi Pueblo’s University location. Find her on Twitter @NataliaKW and Facebook.