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 confess I’d probably eat overnight oats 3 times a day if I could, so that’s mainly what I’d use them for, but I like them in baked goods as well: I made Angela’s (Oh She Glows) Cherry, Banana and Coconut Bread (that *does* taste as good as it sounds, by the way) a few days ago and they’re in that, you just get the odd tiny crunch in with the smooth buttery texture and it’s wonderful! Occasionally I like them in smoothies too, I like the texture they give the smoothie ’cause I like ’em thick! 😀
Thanks 🙂
I’d like to try your recipe! 😀 Sounds great…and maybe this chia pudding that I’ve heard so much about.
I usual use chia seeds to make voluminous oatmeal and sometimes in smoothies – I would like to try some other recipes though, like chia seed pudding or using them in bars.
I use this incredible go-to chia cracker to give me an energy kick before a heavy workout, trail-run or hike. And interestingly enough, my supply of chia seed is almost depleted…..hmmm…?
To make my chia energy crackers, I just soak the chia seed for about an hour in kambucha (my guess is that other fruit juice would work as well), then drop the puffed up mixture in tablespoon sized rounds onto my dehydrater trays (i’m sure low temp in the oven would probably work too). Once fully dehydrated, these chia crackers hold together to make a perfect energy packed little cracker round. They are crispy, just barely sweet, and loaded with healthy energy for endurance without the sugar crash! Gotta try them!
I like adding chia seeds to smoothies for a little protein boost. I’ve also heard you can make “chia egg” in a similar manner to a “flax egg” though I haven’t tried it yet.
I love using chia seeds in oatmeal and also when making homemade granola bars.
Call it weird, but I like to mush a banana with a tsp of pb and combine it with a tbsp of chia seeds and some almond milk. I think it tastes delicious 🙂
I love stirring chia into raw oatmeal!
Never used chia seeds, but I’ve wanted to for a long time. Not sure where to find them where I live, but I keep hearing how they’re so great, and I think chia pudding looks delicious. Maybe I should try harder to hunt some down.
I love adding them to oatmeal!