Strawberry-Banana Coconut Chia Pudding

Ch-ch-ch-chia! Until about a year ago if you said the word chia, my mind would have gone straight to the infomercial for those little head-shaped planting pots with sprouts growing out the top. Now, all I think of is the superfood that goes into this delicous pudding!

Here's a rundown of some of the many benefits:

• Packed full of omega-3s for healthy heart and brain function
• Great source of fiber: Contains 11 grams of fiber per one-ounce serving (3 T.). This slows digestion, preventing blood sugar spikes and the release of insulin (fat storage).
• High in protein for energy and building muscle. Contains 4 grams per ounce.
• Good source of calcium. One serving contains almost 20% of your daily recommended value of calcium, which helps maintain bone and oral health, and prevent osteoporosis.
• Improve heart health: Shown to help reduce blood pressure and may also reduce bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol.

Check out nutrition data of chia seeds here.

If you haven't tried chia seeds yet, I definitely recommend going out and buying some for all those reasons and more. You can buzz them up in your smoothies to give the drink a little more staying power or try the endless variations of chia pudding. This recipe is just one of the ways that I've been enjoying them. You can use coconut milk for a richer dessert version, add lots of different fruits and berries, sprinkle on toasted nuts or cinnamon, and even try out cocoa powder for a rich chocolate taste!

The great thing about chia seed pudding is that it takes almost no time and effort to prepare. You don't have to attentively whisk anything over the stove. These little seeds expand to absorb more than 10 times their weight in water all on their own. You just combine them with milk and let them chill out in the fridge for a bit. How easy is that?

Strawberry-Banana Coconut Chia Pudding

Serves 2-3.

Prep time: 5 min.  Total Time: 1 hr 5 min. 

 

Ingredients:

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11/2 cups milk or unsweetened almond milk

1 ripe banana
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup strawberries, sliced
2 T. coconut flakes

Directions:

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1. In a mixer, blend together milk and banana until smooth.

2. Pour into a large jar or mixing bowl, add chia seeds and vanilla. Mix and let sit for 5 minutes.

3. Mix again and pour mixture into two glasses, cover and chill in the fridge for at least an hour.

4. Garnish with freshly cut strawberries and coconut flakes.