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.
Hey Katie! New reader, first time commenter! I have been dying to try chia seeds ever since they first appeared in the blog world in overnight oats like yours and as a binder in baked goods, similar to flax eggs. I have never tried either of these (you introduced me to voluminous oats and baked oatmeal a few weeks though and no joke, I have had one or the other every morning since!) but what I would probably use them first for is pudding! I am a vegetarian, not vegan (sorry….I love my dairy and eggs!), but I am a pudding fanatic and have had so much trouble making it from scratch, either with eggs or cornstarch.
Anyways, I have spent hours reading over your blog since stumbling across it and have tried several recipes with rave reviews. Thanks so much for the great ideas and recipes!
I have been wanting to try chia seeds and would definitely try the never ending oatmeal because with 4 kids it would be perfect:)
I love chia seeds. I would put them on cereal, put them in a smoothy and use them as an egg replacer in baked goods. They are really marvelous!
I have yet to make over-night oats, so I’d totally do that if I won the chia seeds! But I also love them like sprinkles on banana soft serve! Also in smoothies, of course. And homemade granola bars! And on salads! Oh chia seeds, I love them so! : )
I love putting chia seeds in my smoothies! 😀
I have this muffing recipe that calls for chia seeds and pumpkin. I want to try them out before the fall season so I can serve the perfected ones at parties I’m hoping to host.
i’d definitely add the chia seeds for egg replacements and to pump up my overnight oats!
Hi Katie!
We love chia seeds over here. They are great in green smoothies, raw granola (I make my own with sprouted buckwheat, sprouted raw almonds and chia seeds….yummm), chocolate mint chia pudding and chocolate almond chia puddings. They are soooo good! Thanks!!
Oh, Katie, If I won the chia seeds, I add them to my oats!
I also have a few healthy cookie recipes I put them in. Yum! I tried the “pudding” you can make from chia, but it was too slimy for my taste.
I’d also give some to a gluten-free lady at work. She’s been dying to try them, but they’re so expensive around here she hasn’t done it yet.
I love chia sprouts. i’m old enough that i was an adult when the first chia pets came out in the 70’s. a friend gave my husband and i one and we were hooked. i also have bread recipes that call for them and like to add a tbs. to a pot of rice. believe me if i won they would not go to waste!
I really want to try making chia seed pudding. I keep seeing recipes for it on food blogs, and would love to create a chocolate chia pudding recipe.
My only experience with chia seeds was on several Chia Pets I had in college. (Please tell me someone else had these!) I didn’t even know you could eat them until recently. So I guess if I win, I’ll be trying this recipe!
i would definitely make lots of delicious variations of chia puddings!
Oh, how I adore chia seeds! I use them everyday in my morning green smoothie and in baking. (:
This recipe looks pretty delicious. I also love making chia seed pudding!
I like chia seeds in muffins, oatmeal, and I grind them and put them in fresh baked bread–super yummy and it gives a nice, flavorful crunch in the crust!