Orange Cream Chia Pudding
This chia pudding takes me back to my childhood eating those 50/50 orange creamsicle bars on a hot summer day. The sweetness and tartness from the orange juice is perfectly balanced with the creaminess of the coconut milk making this the perfect treat anytime of day. I’ll eat this for breakfast, as an afternoon snack, or sweet treat to end the day. I love topping it with fresh berries, especially raspberries or strawberries.
Chia seeds really became popular a few years ago. Before I really knew what to do with chia seeds, I remember first adding them to my water. But now, there are so many better ways to enjoy these nutritious little seeds.
What makes chia seeds so nutritious is that they are an excellent source of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and other micronutrients. Particularly, chia seeds are a source of soluble fiber, which means it creates a gel in the digestive tract which is beneficial for making stools easier to pass. Yes, that is one perk of the job of a dietitian is talking about bowel movements! Due to the fiber content, chia seeds help slow the digestion of carbohydrates which helps manage blood sugar, helps you feel fuller longer aiding in weight loss, and assists in lowering cholesterol by helping eliminating excess cholesterol and fat from the body via your stool.
As a source of omega-3 fatty acids, chia seeds are cardioprotective and help reduce inflammation. One way they impact cardiovascular health is how they help manage cholesterol by helping to excrete LDL cholesterol or the “bad” cholesterol and help to increase HDL cholesterol or the “good” cholesterol. They can also help lower blood pressure.
Chia seeds provide about 4 grams of protein per 1 ounce (or 2 tablespoons) of chia seeds. They are the perfect addition to your diet to give you a little boost of protein. There are many ways to incorporate chia seeds in your diet but some of my favorites include adding them to smoothies, making chia pudding, adding to overnight oats, making 2-ingredient chia berry jam (by combining frozen berries that have been defrosted with chia seeds) & more.
Orange creamsicle chia seed pudding
Ingredients:
1 cup liquid: Juice from 2 navel oranges with remaining cup from full-fat coconut milk
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 - 2 tsp of honey (I prefer BeeKeeper’s Naturals)
Directions:
Mix all ingredients together in a jar. Shake or stir to fully combine.
Place in fridge for a few hours or overnight.
Top with fresh berries of your choice, granola, or whatever your heart desires and enjoy!
Note: I am not affiliated with BeeKeeper’s Naturals. I just love their products and have been using them for myself for many years. If you’d like to try any of their products you can order via my Fullscript and get 15% off.
