Vanilla Cinnamon Chia Pudding

This is one of my favorite ways to have Chia Seeds. 
(I must warn you right away-if you are a texture person, this may not be the recipe for you!!  It's equivalent to Tapioca pudding).

This recipe is super simple with very few ingredients and has so many different variations to be creative with.

So now, before I give you the recipe, let's discuss those Chia Seeds you are so curious about!

Chia is an edible seed that comes from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, grown in Mexico dating back to Mayan and Aztec cultures. "Chia" means strength, and folklore has it that these cultures used the tiny black and white seeds as an energy booster. That makes sense, as chia seeds are a concentrated food containing healthy omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and calcium. 

Chia seeds are an unprocessed, whole-grain food that can be absorbed by the body as seeds (unlike flaxseeds). One ounce (about 2 tablespoons) contains 139 calories, 4 grams of protein, 9 grams fat, 12 grams carbohydrates and 11 grams of fiber, plus vitamins and minerals.

Chia seeds are said to have:

• 2 times the protein of any other seed or grain
• 5 times the calcium of milk, plus boron which is a trace mineral that
  helps transfer calcium into your bones
• 2 times the amount of potassium as bananas
• 3 times the reported antioxidant strength of blueberries
• 3 times more iron than spinach
• copious amounts of omega 3 and omega 6, which are essential fatty acids…

They are a complete source of protein, providing all the essential amino acids in an easily digestible form. They are also a fabulous source of soluble fibre.

Other benefits of Chia seeds are that they:

• Provides energy
• Boosts strength
• Bolsters endurance
• Levels blood sugar
• Induces weight loss
• Aids intestinal regularity

Chia seeds can be sprinkled onto any foods before eating, baked into muffins and other baked goods, put into shakes and made into puddings like this one!  They are tasteless, which is why they are easy to add into your diet!
So now that you see how awesome these little seeds are, let me give you this delicious recipe so you can add them into your diet.

Cinnamon-Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding

Prep time: 5 mins
Total time: 5 mins

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients:
1 cup non-dairy milk, any kind you like (I like plain, unsweetened almond milk)
3 tablespoons chia seeds
1-2 packets stevia (more or less to taste; see Note below)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 small pinch sea salt

Instructions:
Stir together all ingredients in a small bowl.
Refrigerate until it reaches your desired thickness, stirring occasionally.
(I usually chill mine about 4 hours, but overnight is fine.)
Serve chilled and top with fruit if desired!

Macros (without fruit) per serving:
100 calories/8g carbs/3g protein/6.5g fat

Variations to this pudding include adding maple syrup instead of stevia or cocoa to make it chocolate!!

There are tons of recipes out there, so get onto Pinterest and find your favorite!!