How to Eat Chia Seeds: 10 Different Ways

Chia seeds have been trending tremendously over the past few years, and that might have to do with their amazing health benefits that they offer as they are loaded with plenty of nutrition.

If you've been making any effort to eating healthier recently, chances are you might have taken a dab at a chia seed recipe or two.

These tiny black seeds originated in Mexico in the Mayan and Aztec cultures, so there's a little bit of cultural history involved :) Chia means strength in the Mayan culture. And so, they're small but they can pack a pretty big punch!

When chia seeds are soaked they begin experiencing a really interesting gelatinous transformation, making them easy to incorporate into your current diet.

If you're like me, you've probably forgot all about these adorable little chia seeds that were sitting in your kitchen for awhile. And if you're new to chia seeds like I once was, you might feel a little bit lost on how to eat chia seeds or even how to drink chia seeds.

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Whatever the reason may be, this post will guide you and provide lots of inspiration to make that next chia seed recipe! Although these tiny seeds don't add much flavor to foods, they're still loaded with plenty of nutrition like omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein. In addition, their ability to absorb liquid goes along very smoothly with thick things like soups, oatmeal and smoothies. The interesting part is that they're actually a great substitute for egg in vegan baking. Marvelous!

Here are 10 ways to eat chia seeds:

Chia Pudding

This is insanely easy to make! You can already make a delicious chia pudding simply by mixing in your favorite milk with chia seeds--it cannot get any easier! This is a good and quick way to start your day off or to make a healthy dessert. Use 1 cup of coconut or almond milk with 3 tablespoons chia seeds, proceed to mix well and refrigerate overnight. The general rule for a tasty chia seed pudding is a ratio of 3 tablespoons chia seeds to 1 cup milk.

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So if you're planning to make more than 1 serving size, use that as a simple cheatsheet so you'll never make a bad chia pudding :)

You can mix in some fruits, coconut shavings, nuts, spices, or powders, or anything really. There are so many ways to eat a homemade chia pudding to enhance the flavor.

Chia Jam

Dump those highly-processed, sugar-packed jams away and make your own healthy version at home! You can practically combine any fruit with chia seeds to create a deliciously flavored jam. And since chia seeds have the ability to transform liquid into a jelly-like matter, all you really need to do is toss in one of your favorite juicy fruits and mix them with chia seeds.

The best consistency without any of those unnecessary additives is a ratio of 1 tablespoon of chia seeds to every 1 cup of mashed fruit.

Chia Smoothie

Tossing in chia seeds to any foods will increase their nutritional value tremendously. And a smoothie will be no different!

To start, add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, 1 tablespoon cacao powder, 1 cup almond milk, 1 frozen banana, and 1 handful of spinach. Proceed to combine all ingredients along with your desired ice into a blender. Mix on high for a minute. Constantly check on the consistency and add more liquid if necessary. Blend for an additional 30 seconds and you now have yourself a deliciously homemade chia smoothie.

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Chia Tea

Easily make some chia tea by adding 1 tablespoon of chia seeds into every 16 oz of tea. Whether your tea is hot, iced, or room temperature, it will texturize with tons of healing benefits for your metabolism and health.

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Tortillas

Tortillas that are made up of chia seeds are very light, but they are definitely tasty! Combine 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour, 1/2 tablespoons of flax meal, 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder, 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, 1/5 cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of coconut or olive oil. Proceed to mix well and roll into a firm ball. Then, separate the dough into 4 or 5 even balls, and flatten.

Proceed to heat a pan to medium temperature, and without greasing, place the dough in the pan for about 2-3 minutes on both sides, or until light golden brown.

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You can add any of your favorite spices to this mixture to make it savory or sweet! They can also be cut into chips and baked inside the oven for a couple of more minutes. These nutritious tortillas are so flexible and can really provide some good flavors.

Ice cream chia seeds

Ice cream props are great for a late night treat or a hot summer day but they tend to be filled with heavy fats and refined sugars. With a simple swap of ingredients, you can just make those childhood favorites of yours into a wholesome dessert!

Simply combine your favorite berries, chia seeds and coconut milk to get those healthy dose of vitamins and nutrients accumulated and you won't have to be worrying about any unknown ingredients.

It takes barely any effort to make. Just simply blend and freeze the mixture in ice cube or pop trays.

Chia Protein Dessert

When your sweet tooth begins craving, desserts become hard to avoid. But instead of grabbing yourself those store-bought treats, try baking up a healthy dessert and simply add 1 or 2 tablespoon of chia seeds.

Read: Reasons Why Doughnuts Are Awful For Your Health

They can be added to muffins, healthy banana bread recipes, cookies, and more to hand over every sweet that divine consistency and a bit of crunch.

Texture Enhancers

Easily blend in your morning breakfast by adding chia seeds to a full-fat greek yogurt or steel cut oatmeal. The normally smooth texture will transform into a way more vibrant one by adding in this protein-boosting superfood.

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Remember to stay away from oatmeals and flavored yogurts because of the additional unnatural ingredients, as well as the tons of sugar. Those brands want you to think that by eating a flavored yogurt you're getting a dose of fruit in it, but when looked at closely the sugar content actually ends up higher on the ingredients list and is a total scheme. You can get the same level of sweetness simply by adding your own fresh fruit and spices like nutmeg and cinnamon!

Chia Breakfast Bar

Put yourself together with a power packed blend of your best seeds, grains, fruits and nuts to make the perfect morning breakfast bars. Chia seeds will help give you that extra boost in protein and fiber content. Try a couple different recipes to find out what you like best. And be sure to stay away from recipes that contain too much sugar (that means ingredients like honey, dried fruits and agave) and lead to belly fat. Health experts recommend no more than 5% of the daily calories come from sugar.

Read: What Happens When You Consume Less Than 1000 Calories A Day?

Chia Dip

Make a superfood guacamole, Greek Tzatziki or hummus sauce with chia seeds! Incoporating chia seeds into your favorite dips will help pack in a healthy punch, additionally creating a smooth gelatin texture similar to the classic dip. These flavorless seeds will boost the nutrition value of the dips with loads of protein and fiber.

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