I love chia seed pudding. There is something about the texture and the packed in nutrients that gets me every single time. I’ve played with a lot of different recipes, and really, really like this one. Chia seed pudding is easy to make on Sunday for the whole week. I like to store mine in mason jars and carry it to work that way. But I don’t just love this chia pudding because it’s delicious, it’s full of nutrients, vitamins and minerals that help keep my immune system strong and my overall health in tip-top shape. Check it out:
Chia Seeds – Pack full of nutrients such as fiber (yay for good digestion!), protein, omega-3s (the good fat), calcium (you can get this from more than just dairy), manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and more! These tiny little seeds expand in liquid and give you a texture I really enjoy (but this can be an acquired texture).
Pumpkin – Pumpkin season is wrapping up, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t talk about it’s health benefits. Pumpkin is high in Vitamin A, which aids in helping your eyesight to stay in tip top shape. They also contain an impressive amount of Vitamin C, and it is no secret that Vitamin C helps the immune system. So in the last days of pumpkin season, eat it up with health in mind!
Coconut / Coconut Milk – I love coconut. I mean, I REALLY love coconut! Coconut milk is my favorite cow’s milk substitute. Dr. Axe has a great article on benefits of coconut milk. I encourage you to read it, because even a summary of the health benefits of coconut milk would not do it justice.
Maple Syrup – Pure Grade-B maple syrup is a great natural sweetener. It not only sweetens withe the maple flavor, but also add nutrients, unlike other sweeteners. Remember though, that this is still sugar, so use the minimum amount possible to help keep sugar spikes to a minimum.
Hemp Seed – Want to pack in more omega-3s? Hemp seeds are another great source for those health packed fats.
Almonds – Did you know almonds are technically a seed and not a nut? These buddies are packed full of nutrients and can add a good crunch to many dishes. There is extensive research currently being done that shows that almonds may help lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Those are all wins in my book.
Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding
Prep time: 12 hours
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 12 hours 10 mins
Serves: 4
Ingredients
5 Tbsp chia seeds
1 15-oz can organic pumpkin puree
2 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut milk (or non-dairy milk of choice)
1 Tbsp grade B maple syrup OR 2 Tbsp organic raw sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp [url href=”http://www.frescospiceblends.com/shop/vanilla-apple-spice” target=”_blank”]Apple Pie Spice[/url]
Shredded coconut, hemp seed, pepita, almonds or walnuts, to serve
Instructions
In a mixing bowl, stir together, pumpkin, sweetener, vanilla, apple pie spice and chia seeds until well combined.
Slowly stir in milk until all ingredients are uniform and no clumps exist.
Transfer to a sealed jar (I like a wide-mouth mason jar) and place in the refrigerator overnight, or for at least two hours.
To serve, spoon into a bowl and top with desired toppings
Enjoy!