When I first tried chia seeds (in the form of chia pudding), I wasn’t a fan. I wanted to like them: they’re so good for you. But eating something just because it’s good for you?
Ridiculous!
You don’t have to suffer for health.
If you aren’t big on a certain food, there are plenty of ways to get all your nutrients somewhere else. For example, my sister hates bananas. So she gets her potassium from foods she does like, such as yams, spinach, and broccoli. No big deal. Remember that mental health is an important component to overall health, too. If you’re choking down foods you detest, your mental health will suffer.
Going back to the chia… Although I didn’t like the pudding, I was willing to give the seeds a second chance. Perhaps I’d enjoy them in a different form. After all, everyone in the blogworld seems to adore them. So when the Health Warrior Company offered me some samples, I accepted.
And I discovered that I do like chia seeds. They are awesome in oatmeal!
Never-Ending Oatmeal Bowl
(serves 1)
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 1/2 cups milk of choice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup more milk of choice
- sweetener and add-ins of choice
Either cook oats, milk, and salt on the stovetop, or place your oats and salt in a large, microwaveable dish (I use a pyrex 4-cup measurer) with the milk of choice. Microwave 1 and 1/2 minutes, then add your chia and 1/2 cup more liquid. Microwave 2 more minutes. Don’t open the microwave door yet. Instead, leave your mixture for five minutes. Then stir and put in the fridge—uncovered—overnight. Next day, it will magically be thick and ready for your favorite add-ins!
For sweetener, try using The Melted Banana Trick.
Also, I really like to put the cooked oatmeal in my Magic Bullet and blend just a little. This “blended grains” trick really helps all the flavors to meld together.
Do you ever eat foods you don’t really like, just because they’re good for you?
Or do you ever feel pressured to eat a certain food because other bloggers like it? We are all different and our bodies crave different things (and amounts). We should NOT base our food choices on what anyone else is eating. It’d be really weird (not to mention boring) if we were all exactly the same.
This is one of the main reasons I’m not planning on doing another “day in the life” post even though a lot of readers have asked. I don’t feel comfortable knowing others will compare their eating habits to mine or try to mimic what I eat. The way I eat is only perfect for me. You need to listen to your own body, not to what anyone around you is doing.
I’ve been wanting to like them too, but can’t stand the chia pudding (it never pudding-izes for me)! I agree that they’re great in oats though!
GOOOOOOOOO KATIE!!!
Thank you for this :). I’m so glad that the blogworld has been raising this issue more. I don’t necessarily feel pressured into eating certain foods, as much as eating certain amounts. I think blogs were/are a great resource (for me, who knew that eating smaller, more frequent meals would clear up a lot of my digestion issues? I didn’t do it because I “had to” really, but becuase I was curious to try it. And it worked… FOR ME!).
I sometimes feel like my posts have to reflect the ideal me or show me indulging to show I don’t fall into the comparison blog trap. But I am not ideal, and I compare, too! There is a fine line between setting a good example and not making your life miserable doing so.
I totally agree that you shouldn’t make yourself eat something you don’t like (though I’m telling you – my peach chia pudding is realllly good! 🙂 ). There is way too much good food in the world to force something down – there are other ways of getting nutrients. Nothing in the world will get me to eat cauliflower. The. End.
P.S. This just made me think of my mom saying “If everyone was jumping off a bridge, would YOU?”
That’s such a good point. I love blogging [and food blogs] because I find out about lots of interesting, new foods. But I also never force myself to eat something I don’t like.
On another note, my partner often mentions how he doesn’t get the food combinations I make. Some things I like to eat may be strange, but if I find them delicious, so be it.
I have been trying eggplant time and time again because I read that they are super-healthy. But I never liked it! I don’t really feel pressured to eat a certain food other bloggers like. Mostly, its because I can’t (because its not available) or I’ve tried it and did not like it. Hehe.
I’ve never ever had chia seeds before or even seen the real thing! Its only available at organic shops in Singapore. Looks great though! 😀
LOVE this post!…. Why do we judge ourselves so much? I don’t know but it seems so easy to get down on yourself, especially with all the awesome bloggers out there! It is important to BE YOURSELF! Thank you for the reminder!
I agree, you shouldn’t eat things if they don’t taste good just cause they’re healthy! And I don’t like avocados either, yuck!
Haha I’m so glad I’m not the only one!
i so tried to love/force down avocados because i know they’re so good for you, but i just can’t! i naturally don’t like fat-containing foods, so i have to make sure to include good fats like sardines, salmon, and walnuts just to meet my macro reqs!
You are not the only one doesnt like avocados I dont eat like them too 😂
LOVE THIS so much. You were probably SO right on everything you said about the blogger peer pressures. I’m pretty sure everyone has somehow gotten caught up in that b4! Weird all the little issues that can happen in the BLOG world right? haha. Its so important to listen to YOUR body because what other peoples bodies need may be COMPLETELY different!!
Also I was going to ask you if you have ever used sunwarrior protein powders?
I haven’t! I am so intrigued to try them, because I’ve NEVER seen any blogger post a bad review… but I am cheap and lazy and therefore have never ordered a giant tub online. I don’t think I’ve actually had ANY protein powder in about a year.
Someday I’ll have to try it, though! 🙂
The only “negative” review of Sunwarrior that I have seen is on Edible Perspective — I think she said it was chalky?
And I thought this post from Peas and Thank You was a good review of other protein powder options: http://peasandthankyou.com/2011/05/17/protein-power/
Thanks, Holly, my avocado-loving friend :).
I’m intrigued as to what you might suggest for breakfast if you don’t enjoy oatmeal.
Personally I only enjoy a few combinations and I get bored quite quickly with them if I eat them constantly so I’m wondering what you would suggest for another breakfast – cold please, I can’t eat hot food in the morning!
Hey Louise!
Oh gosh, there are tons of things you can still eat! 🙂
The #1 thing that comes to my mind is pancakes! But also, any of my healthy milkshakes: https://lett-trim.today/chocolate-covered-recipes/milkshakes/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> Or muffins, waffles, cold cereal, french toast, or even my healthy ice cream recipes. (Haha I’ve done it before!)
Or even banana bread in a bowl: https://lett-trim.today/2007/10/15/abc-another-breakfast-creation/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> I could go on and on… I love breakfast :).