I must admit, I am fairly new to the use of chia seeds. As with most things, I hear about the benefits of eating new food, or the versatility it can offer in my kitchen but tend to hold off on trying it for myself until the evidence is mounting.

Well, the evidence that chia seeds are worth the money is definitely mounting!

The Benefits of Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are an incredibly versatile food. Who knew? Yes, the chia seeds that I and my fellow 80's children grew as mock animal hair in our kitchen windows. Come on, you know the jingle… “cha – cha – cha – chia!”

But as it turns out, chia seeds are full of nutrition and can be a very convenient ingredient to have around.

Let's take a look at their nutrition:

Chia seeds are high in omega 3 fatty acids, something we could all use more of in our diets!
They promote healthy digestion by relieving inflammation, diarrhea, and constipation
They are gluten free and grain free
They are a good natural source of magnesium

Aside from the nutritional benefits, this is the ultimate superfood to have in your pantry for several practical reasons.

Let's look at how you can use them in your kitchen:

Chia seeds make a great egg substitute if you ever run out of eggs (or if you are avoiding them).
They make a great natural thickener for gravies, soups, and more.
Chia seeds can be used to make healthy homemade pudding (like the Banana Flax Chia Seed Pudding recipe included below)
Check out more uses for chia seeds from the Wellness Mama.

Banana Flax Chia Seed Pudding Recipe

If you've already purchased your first package of chia seeds, here's a great first recipe to try.

This recipe is courtesy of Carrington Farms. All Carrington Farms products are certified organic, Star-K Kosher, gluten-free and non-GMO. From the pure whole seed flax to the chia blends and cold-pressed organic extra virgin coconut oil, all of Carrington Farms' vitamin and mineral-full health food products are a great way to start adding a little more nutrition to your everyday life. For more information, please visit www.carringtonfarms.com.

You can purchase chia seeds and chia seed blends on their website or at Amazon.com here and here.

And now for the recipe…

Print Pin

Banana Flax Chia Seed Pudding

Ingredients

1 banana mashed
2 1/4 cups almond milk
2 tablespoons honey or agave
½ cup Carrington Farms Flax Chia Blend Buy Here

Instructions

In a sealable jar or container, combine mashed banana, almond milk, and honey/agave
Close the container and shake to mix all the ingredients well
Add Carrington Farms Flax Chia Blend and repeat
Refrigerate for at 2 hours or up to 3 days, shaking occasionally
Serve with toppings such as extra agave, nuts, or dried fruit

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Vanessa Pruitt, PLMHP, MS

Vanessa is a Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner in Nebraska and holds an MS in Clinical Psychology. She is a certified trauma professional with a special interest in helping people heal from trauma and complex trauma.

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