Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

Roger

Until recently, all I knew about Chia Seeds was from my chia pet.  I discovered sprouting at age 11 when I received my first, and only, original sheep-model chia pet named Roger.  It was awesome to smear the little seeds on him and watch him grow a green coat of fur ... until I discovered baseball, lost interest, and killed him. Apparently, I did not have much of a green thumb early on. Apparently, chia seeds are much, much more beneficial than I (or Roger) initially realized.

Chia Seeds Health Benefits Include:

Chia seeds Contain the highest plant source of Omega-3 on the planet

• Promote Heart Health

• Support Mental Health
• Aid Digestive Health
• Great for Diabetics
• Have more Antioxidants than blueberries.
• A complete protein with all 9 amino-acids.
• An excellent source of Calcium, Magnesium & Iron.
• Are 100% natural and raw.
• Chia Seeds are an effective aid to healthy weight loss.  The fiber rich chia seeds and slowly metabolized carbs can help to curb the appetite and has been shown to help lose weight when included with a balanced and healthy diet.

Because Chia Seeds are very glutenous when liquid is added, they are great to use as thickeners and to make raw puddings and tapiocas.  

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

• 4 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 C  unsweetened raw almond milk 
• 30-40 drops stevia to taste
• 1 tbsp raw cacao powder
• 1 tsp Frontier Organic (No alcohol) vanilla

Mix all the ingredients together.  It may take a little time to incorporate the cocoa, but eventually it will.  

Cover and leave on your counter for 20 minutes before enjoying.  Or, you can leave it in the fridge overnight and enjoy the next day.  ( I personally prefer it cold) The chia seeds continue to absorb the liquid they are in so you may need to water your pudding down with some more almond milk if you leave it till the next day.  You can top your pudding with fresh fruit or just eat it plain. 

Ways to use Chia Seeds

• Add seeds to raw soups and sauces to thicken.
• Add seeds to salad dressings.
• Grind seeds and add to raw almond milk to make a “porridge”
•  Eat Chia seeds whole and raw as a snack.
• Add whole seeds to diluted fresh fruit juice to make Chia Fresca.
• Make Chia Pudding by adding whole seeds fresh raw nut milk
• Add Ground Chia seeds to smoothies.
• Add ground Chia seeds raw flax cracker recipes
• Throw a few Chia seeds on top of a salad
• Substitute Chia seeds for Flax seeds in recipes
• Pureed fruit, chia seeds and a little fruit juice is a good topping for raw ice cream.
• Add whole seeds to raw granola bar recipes.
•  Sprout the seeds and use in salads.
• Mix ground seeds with raw almond butter for a nutritious spread.

There are endless raw Chia seed recipes online.  Here is one site with a bunch of recipes incorporating Chia seeds.

Chia Seed Recipes