I don’t know about you, but I really love sweets. Of course I realize many of the snacks and desserts I crave don’t offer a lot of nutritional value, so I often find myself scrolling recipe pages online in search of new ways to satisfy my cravings in healthier ways. To celebrate National Chia Day today, I’d like to share my most recent discovery – chia pudding!

When you think of chia seeds, you likely think of the chia pets that became popular in the 1980s. These tiny, edible seeds also pack a lot of nutrition. They’re gluten-free, vegan-friendly, and a great source of fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and several vitamins and minerals. They are a versatile ingredient because they don’t have much flavor, so you can add them to almost anything.

Many people enjoy adding chia seeds to their salads, oatmeal, smoothies, or baked goods, but possibly the most popular recipes are for pudding because of the gel-like consistency they take on when added to liquid. The texture is similar to tapioca pudding and can take some getting used to but is easily disguised a bit when mixed with toppings with other textures such as nuts, granola, yogurt, or fruit. Chia pudding is easy to make, allows for flavor customization, and keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days, so you can make a bigger batch and have it ready to go all week. Chia pudding can be very filling, so a little goes a long way.

Start with Alyssa from Simply Quinoa’s base recipe:

• 3 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or sweetener of choice)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¾ cup milk of choice

Mix these ingredients together and place it in the fridge to set. I find it does take a while for the pudding to thicken and it tastes best when allowed to sit in the refrigerator overnight (or for several hours). When you’re ready to eat, just give it a stir, add any toppings you’d like to mix in, and enjoy!

There are endless ways to tailor this base recipe to make any flavor you’d like. For example, adding cocoa powder to this base is an easy way to make delicious chocolate chia pudding. For additional flavor ideas, check out https://www.simplyquinoa.com/healthy-chia-pudding/

Is it part of a healthy breakfast or is it a dessert? I’d say both!

Work Cited

 Alyssa. “6 Easy & Healthy Chia Pudding Recipes.” Simply Quinoa, 4 June 2021, https://www.simplyquinoa.com/healthy-chia-pudding/.

“National Chia Day – March 23.” National Today, 7 July 2021, https://nationaltoday.com/national-chia-day/.

If you have a wellness themed topic you would like to share or learn more about, and/or blog/vlog about as an expert in a health/wellness related field, please reach out to shelby@cclyme.org. 

Shelby Wood
Manager of Program Development
CommunityCare of Lyme
Shelby@cclyme.org
802-468-7776