Living Lindsay

I think I might overdose on chia seeds.

So much goodness packed into a tiny seed

Is that possible? I just love the little guys so much!

I’ve been enjoying some Mamma Chia drinks lately:

It's like a party for your mouth

And I’ve been having fun coming up with some fun chia pudding flavors. The wonderful thing about chia pudding is you can pretty much come up with any flavor concoction you can dream of. If you have never tried chia pudding, the texture is reminiscent of tapioca pudding, but you get a much bigger bang for your buck when it comes to nutrients.

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7 Good Reasons To Start Eating Chia Seeds

1. Help weight loss. Chia seeds are popular for weight loss. They reduce food cravings by preventing some of the food that you eat from getting absorbed into your system. This blockage of calorie absorption makes them a great diet helper.
2. Feel fuller faster: They can also help your diet by making you feel full. This is because they absorb 10 times their weight in water, forming a bulky gel.
3. Hydration for athletes: They are also great for athletes because the “chia gel” can hydrate the body.
4. Reduce your blood pressure: There’s evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure.
5. Omega-3: They are the richest plant source of Omega-3 (the vital fats that protect against inflammation—such as arthritis—and heart disease). In fact, they contain more Omega-3 than salmon!
6. Benefits for diabetes: Because chia seeds slow down how fast our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugars, studies indicate they can control blood sugar. This leads scientists to believe chia seeds may have great benefits for diabetics.
7. They are easier to digest than flax seeds, and don’t need to be ground up.

Now onto the fun flavors!

Pumpkin is popping up everywhere! I think it’s safe to say that pumpkin is probably the most popular flavor for the fall/early winter season.

Pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin cookies, and…..

Pumpkin Pie Chia Pudding

Perfect for Fall

You will need:

1/4 cup chia seeds

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1/4 cup canned pumpkin

1 packet NuNaturals Stevia (or sweetener of choice)

1/4 tsp nutmeg (or to taste)

1/2 tsp cinnamon (or to taste)

raisins and walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Mix the almond milk and pumpkin together until it is well combined. Add the spices and chia seeds and stir until everything is well-incorporated. Add the raisin and walnuts and mix. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes, stir, then place in the refrigerator for at least one hour so it thickens up.

Top with more raisins if you like. So good and tastes just like pumpkin pie!

Pumpkin pie in chia form

Let’s move on….how about mint and chocolate? Mmmm…..If you’ve been visiting my blog for awhile, you’ll know that I’m a huge fan of the mint-chocolate combo. I love it because it is so refreshing. It’s perfect for a hot summer day, but the cool mint flavor is my favorite during the holiday season.

Mint Chocolate Chip Chia Pudding

Cool and refreshing

You will need:

1/4 cup chia seeds

1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

1/4 cup frozen spinach

1/8 tsp peppermint extract

7 drops of NuNaturals Vanilla Liquid Stevia (or sweetener of choice, but add 1/2 tsp vanilla extract if using a non-vanilla flavored sweetener)

1 TBSP cacao nibs

Dark chocolate chips for garnish

Directions:

Put the almond milk and the frozen spinach in a blender and blend well. Pour into a bowl and add the remaining ingredients, mixing until well-combined. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes, stir, and then refrigerate for at least one hour, or until completely thickened. Top with chocolate chips and enjoy!

Chocolate + Mint = True Love Always

Now, let’s talk cake batter. Oh yes. If you stick a tub of frosting in front of me, I will likely dive into it head first. And I may not come up for air. Add sprinkles to it and you may not ever see me again. If cake batter is a flavor option for any treat, it’s usually my first choice.

Cake Batter Chia Pudding

Bringing chia to the party!

You will need:

1/4 cup chia seeds

1 cup vanilla unsweetened almond milk

1 packet NuNaturals Stevia (or sweetener of choice)

1/8 tsp almond extract

1/4 tsp butter extract

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Sprinkles!

Directions:

In a bowl, add your almond milk, sweetener, and extracts and mix well. Add the chia seeds and mix until well-incorporated. Mix in some sprinkles and allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes, stir, then refrigerate for at least one hour. Top with more sprinkles before serving.

Make a wish!

This will make you want to sing “Happy Birthday” and blow out a candle. Consider yourself warned.

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See how fun chia seeds are? I love chia pudding! The flavor possibilities are endless:

Chocolate Cherry Cashew: (chia seeds, almond milk, cocoa powder, sweetener, dried cherries, cashews)

Peanut Butter Cookie: (chia seeds, almond milk, peanut flour, sweetener, peanuts)

I could go on and on and on….

Tell Me:

Have you ever tried chia pudding?

What would be your “dream” flavor of chia pudding?

Have a wonderful Thurdsay!!

<3 Lindsay

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