Layered Maqui Chia Pudding

 

 

Chia pudding (or porridge) is a staple part of my diet. I eat it for breakfast or morning tea, afternoon tea or supper. Sometimes all four! If I’m rushed, I eat it for lunch too. I’m kind of addicted to it. Here’s why:

 

1. It’s delicious. Think berries and cream with a chocolatey-nutty crunch!

 

2. It’s quick and easy. It only takes 5-10 minutes to make my quick version.

 

3. It makes lots and lasts for a week in the fridge. So I can make up a big batch and have enough for a few days.

 

4. It’s versatile. Every batch I make is slightly different to the last, depending on what I have on hand. (See variations below)

 

5. It’s healthy. Chia has approximately 6 times more calcium than milk, as well as being high in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, and other essential minerals. Then there’s all the goodness of the Maqui berry powder with it’s high level of antioxidants, the coconut cream with it’s lauric acid, and the benefits of whatever other superfoods you add, like goji berries and cacao nibs.

 

6. It’s the perfect low GI, natural, ‘sweet treat’. It keeps me from getting ‘hangry’ halfway through the morning or afternoon. {Hangry: ‘A state of anger caused by a lack of food.’ Know what I mean?} Chia seeds and mesquite powder are both great blood sugar stabilizers. As my mum used to say when she gave us porridge for breakfast, “It’ll stick to your ribs!”

 

7. It travels well. I pop a batch into a jar and take it with me as I dash out the door. I even took some on the aeroplane the other day for my lunch… The guy next to me was looking at me a little strangely as I ate my pudding and drank my green smoothie from a jar, but hey, I’d rather that than the dry white bread sandwich and softdrink he had for lunch!

 

And if that’s not enough, here’s Jess the Wellness Warrior’s 13 Reasons to Eat Chia Seeds Every Day!

 

 

 

And just in case that’s not enough reasons for you to try chia pudding – it looks pretty! Especially when you layer it.

 

 

 

There’s lots of different recipes around for chia puddings and porridges, usually involving at least 40 minutes of soaking time, or soaking overnight. Sarah from ‘Homemade, Healthy, Happy’ has a delicious one here that I love, but I decided I wanted a quicker version – I’m usually in a last minute rush in the mornings, so 40 minutes seems a bit too long to wait for the soaking time. I find that by warming the pudding gently for a few minutes at 37C, the chia seeds soak up the liquid just as well as when they are soaked, without being ‘cooked’ and losing their goodness. I also wanted to make one that was kind of fun – which is why I layered it and called it a pudding instead of a porridge. 😉

 

I’ve tried lots of different versions of chia pudding, and pretty much love them all. But this one is how I make it most of the time – with superfood Maqui powder for an antioxidant boost, plus lots of other yummy bits and pieces. My Instagram friends come up with some great combos, and I’m continually being inspired by other people’s versions, like these on my Facebook page. To give you some more ideas of possible variations, here’s a few others I’ve seen that look great!

 

– Coconut Water Chia Porridge (I keep meaning to try this, but I love coconut water so much that I always drink it before the porridge gets made!)

– Apple Cinnamon Chia Porridge

– Chocolate Chia Pudding

– Pumpkin Chia Pudding

– Berry & Nut Chia Porridge

– Chia Porridge with Blueberries & Pecans

– Chia Porridge with Pear, Cinnamon & Vanilla

– Warm Chia Porridge with Herbal Tea

 

…and if you google ‘chia pudding’ and ‘chia porridge’ you’ll come up with heaps more! The variations are endless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, for those of you who would like to try some Yacon Syrup, Mesquite Powder or Agave Syrup, Loving Earth has kindly given me some to give away. So leave a comment below saying what variation of Chia Pudding you’d like to try, and next Saturday (17th November) I’ll pick 3 comments via Random.org and the winners will receive one of the above products to try! One comment each please, and let me know which product you’d prefer to win in your comment, so I can put you in the right prize draw. Woo hoo, thank you Loving Earth!!