Today was a looooong day!!  I woke up around 5:30 for work UGH, then worked a long shift (6:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.) and then had to go to school from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.  I needed help.  So I turned to my trusty friend CHIA.  I don’t use chia too often, unless I need the occasional chia egg in a cupcake or cookie, but I know no matter what it’ll always be there for me when I need it.  Like today.

Juice:  Yes, as I was running out the door at 6:05 a.m. I was handed a beautiful emerald drink (broccoli, kale, cuke, celery, apple, pear)

A.M. Snack (a.k.a. breakfast):  9:00 a.m. 1/2 pint raspberries

Lunch:  11:30 a.m. mesclun salad with tofu and a chocolate almond chia power pudding!!!

P.M. Snack:  3:30 p.m. 2 carrot sticks dipped in herbed cashew butter (recipe coming soon)

Dinner:  7:00 p.m.  large garden salad with arugula, heirloom tomato, avocado and onion lightly dressed with raw hemp oil and raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar + a serving of cooked short grain brown rice… YUM!  Great way to finish out the day!

And now for the recipe:

I adapted this recipe from Angela at OhSheGlows [dot] com.

Chocolate Almond Chia Power Pudding

Serves 1  (aprox. 182 calories)

2 Tbsp. chia seeds

3/4 cup liquid (like water or raw nut milk - I made a fast cashew milk by combining 3/4 cup water with 1 Tbsp. raw cashew butter)

1/2 Tbsp. raw cacao powder or cocoa powder

1/2 Tbsp. yacun syrup, or any raw liquid sweetener

1/4-1/2 tsp. almond extract

1/4 tsp. powder probiotics

Pinch of Himalayan pink sea salt

Directions:

Combine all in a bowl or glass jar with a lid (so now the pudding is easily portable).  Let sit in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes before enjoying!

I can’t even explain how great I felt after eating this.  You’ll have to try it for yourself and see!!

Other chia pudding flavors… try it fruity with fresh or frozen berries, nut milk and vanilla extract, nutty with a heaping scoop of almond butter, vanilla extract and crushed almonds on top, spicy with some pumpkin pie spice, crushed pecans and vanilla extract, or even try it as a guilt free dessert with cacao or carob powder, banana and nut butter sans sweetener!!  Mix all the ingredients together the night before and there you have an easy and sustaining snack ready to go in the morning.

[Photo Source]

What makes Chia so amazing:

• Very rich in omega-3 fatty acids – about 2.4 grams which is 150% the daily value
• Rich in antioxidants – even more than in blueberries
• 15 grams (1 Tbsp.) of the tiny seeds gives you 6 grams of fiber, 3 grams of easily digestible protein, and only 70 calories
• Rich in calcium (~ 65 mg per serving – 2 times the amount in milk), phosphorus, magnesium (~ 41 mg), copper, iron (8% per serving), molybdenum, niacin, potassium (~ 80 mg) and zinc
• Slows the digestion and conversion of carbohydrates to sugar

[Source: dr.weil.com]

Along with this, chia has this awesome ability to hold water.  Due to it’s extraordinary water holding ability, hence the gel it forms after only 10 minutes, it can help you stay hydrated and retain electrolytes during strenuous exercise.  Athletes love this seed, especially marathoners.  Here are some added benefits of the chia seed if you are an athlete:

• Easily digested and absorbed by the body
• The high protein helps build and repair muscle and tissues
• Hydrates your entire body from cells to tissue to muscle
• High in soluble and insoluble fiber giving you energy and endurance

[Source: Pure2Raw.com]