My eating habits changed a little since I began riding to work. Before cycling to work, I eat a portion of muesli that will keep me going almost three hours. The second breakfast I usually have in the morning is a banana-blueberry chia pud prepared the previous night. The fruits are added in the morning, while all the other ingredients soak overnight in almond milk. The whole meal is easier to digest, and the various nutrients are more easily absorbed by my .
The chia pudding I shared previously on my blog is similar in many ways to the low carb breakfast, except that this chia dessert has more carbohydrates.
You’ve probably tried them before. They are great, particularly for breakfast. The seeds have no flavour, but when you soak them they become a kind of gel. This ancient superfood is a South American food. Tarahumara, the north-west Mexican tribe that is home to some of the best long-distance athletes in history, consumes them. Tarahumaras run for fun, 50 to 100 miles at once. Eating chia seed before a run gives them more stamina.
The seeds of chia are rich in nutrients like calcium, manganese, and magnesium (all good for the knees). These seeds are high in protein, fibre and antioxidants. They are also naturally gluten-free, making them ideal for people with gluten intolerance.
There are several online brands that sell chia seed. I have been buying organic chia from Healthy Bee on Amazon. If these brands are not in stock, there are alternative brands.
If you are buying chia seed online, make sure to buy organic and chemical-free seeds. Bulk buying is more economical, but you may prefer a smaller package if you do not plan to use the chia seed every day.
If you buy from a reliable company, the seeds will be of high quality and free of weeds seeds or plant parts. You can get some bad products online. Be careful. Chia seeds are available in black and white. Brown seeds are immature and contain less oil, Omega3, protein etc. contents. You will always find some brown seeds, but when they are the majority of a pack it means that you have bought a poor-quality product!
Banana & Blueberry Chia Pudding
Author: Petra Kravos. A healthy and nutritious morning meal for anyone who works out in the early hours of the day.
Ingredients
- The chia seeds are organic and can be purchased in 2 tablespoons.
- Desiccated Coconut 1 Tbsp
- A sprinkle of Pumpkin Seeds. (They are high in zinc, which is important for a healthy immune system).
- Natural sweeteners such as Natvia
- Two brazil nuts, chopped (they are rich in selenium!)
- 1 tbsp flaxseeds (I use Linwoods)
- 1 tsp raw cacao powder (optional)
- Add more almond milk in the morning, if necessary.
- Small bananas (sliced).
- Greek Yogurt 1 Tbsp (for additional protein)
- A handful of blueberries
Directions
- Mix all ingredients, except the fruit. If you do not have some ingredients, then skip them.
- Overnight, cover the mixture with a lid and place it in the refrigerator.
- Check the consistency in the morning and add extra almond milk if necessary.
- Add sliced blueberries, bananas and Greek yogurt before serving.
Notes
You get a large serving once you combine all ingredients and let them soak over night. It’s not all eaten at once. It’s a great snack for the afternoon. I eat it in the middle of the morning.