Jasmine's Chia Pudding

Hello Pure Mamas!

My name is Jasmine and I initially started eating (mostly) raw, organic, plant-based foods as an experiment to kick my type 1 diabetes in the ass. The benefits of this new lifestyle have been immediate and tangible: my blood sugar levels have stabilized, my daily insulin intake has noticeably decreased, and although I still don't have 6 pack abs, I am not carrying as much stomach fat as I used to.

I started my blog, The Pink Avocado, so that I could share the recipes and lifestyle tips that have helped me feel better, look better, and have more energy. A huge thank you to the lovely Juli for the opportunity to share this recipe with you - please leave a comment and let us know how you and your family like it!

Chia Seeds. Your kids might not know what a Chia Head is, but I bet you remember those now infamous
commercials that were in heavy rotation in the late 80s and early 90s. “Chi-Ch-Ch-Chia!” we sang, as we
watched sprouts of “hair” grow on a clay Lionel Richie head. When I first came across a recipe for chia seed cereal, I was somewhat confused. “EAT Lionel Richie’s hair?? These raw food people are crazy!”
 
Believe it or not, chia seeds are actually an ideal breakfast or snack, and are one of the easiest raw food recipes to make. The seed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, calcium, potassium, and fiber (1 oz. gives you 11g of fiber). When you let the seeds soak for 30 minutes, the seeds form a gel {see BEFORE shot above}.

It’s thought that this reaction also takes place in the stomach, creating a barrier between carbohydrates
and the digestive enzymes that break them down, slowing down the rate by which carbohydrates are converted to sugar. Eating a breakfast that digests slowly means that your kids won’t be begging for a cupcake at 10 a.m. and you won’t be sneaking one yourself at 10:05 a.m.!
 
If you are making this recipe for your kids, try setting out a variety of toppings, such as fresh blueberries,
strawberries, peaches, bananas, raisins, almonds, walnuts, or coconut, and let them create their own chia seed cereal masterpiece.

Timesaver tip: assemble all of the ingredients the night before in a bowl and cover; in the morning, give the mixture a few pulses in your food processor or blender, and serve!

Chia Seed Super Cereal
Makes 2 servings
 
5 Tablespoons chia seeds
Handful of sliced almonds
Handful of walnuts
½ – ¾ cup almond milk
⅓ cup fresh shredded coconut
Splash of vanilla extract (optional)
¼ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Few springs of mint (optional)
Fruit of choice: I prefer fresh berries or a sliced banana with a dash of cinnamon.
 
As soon as you wake up in the morning, put the chia seeds, nuts, and coconut in my mini cuisinart and cover the whole mixture with almond milk. Stir and let sit. Commence your morning routine, stirring the mixture after about 10 minutes; you’ll notice that the seeds are already forming into a gel.
 
After about 20-30 minutes total, add a splash of vanilla and pulse the mixture in the cuisinart until it’s blended. Top with fresh berries, a few sprigs of mint, and a splash of almond milk.
 
Note: I reference the measured ingredients above only as a reference point. Basically you want a ratio of 1:3 chia seeds to almond milk, and a handful of the nuts!