Chia seeds are a wonderful addition to any diet. They are packed with nutritious antioxidants, calcium, omega 3s and even some protein which makes them ideal for adults and children alike. This chia seed pudding is an easy baby food as well. For our dairy free household chia seed pudding is a healthy treat I can feel good about giving the whole family!
Chia Seed Pudding
This recipe is super versatile too. You can boost the protein by adding chopped nuts for more protein or more fruit or choose a different milk (cow, goat, almond, soy or hemp) to hydrate the chia seeds. Chia seeds become a gelatinous seed after 5-10 of soaking in liquid. The outer gelatinous coating is easy to digest and allows access to the nutrients the chia seed pudding offers. You can also choose the texture of the pudding. Our house loves the texture of the whole seed pudding but you can also blend the pudding for a smooth texture closer to traditional pudding.
You can also play around with different flavors, gut healing ingredients like collagen or L-glutamine, vitamins or probiotics. I usually add our WellBelly probiotics and some liquid vitamin D3 to give our pudding a boost. Play around with this recipe to tailor it to your specific tastes and health needs!
Ingredients
2 cups coconut milk
½ cup Chia Seeds
¼ cup (or less) honey (not suitable for infants under 1 year of age)
½ cup of blueberries
¼ cup sliced strawberries
Instructions
For Blended/Smooth Version: Place all ingredients in blender and blend on high for 1-2 minutes until completely smooth.
For Whole Chia Seed Version: Blend all ingredients except chia seeds in a blender until smooth (including any added flavors, fruits or chocolate). Whisk in chia seeds until fully incorporated.
Put the whole seed or blended pudding in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight to let gel and enjoy!
– Dr. Catherine Clinton