Advice and Tips
Important Winter Warming Alert! Chia Porridge,Simply the Best Way to Start Your Day!
So, the days are getting colder (finally!) and you want something warm and comforting to see you through the morning?
Instead of reaching for the usual bowl of porridge, try this alternative that is low in starchy carbs, super high in Omega 3 and good fats, super high in fibre and also boosted with a good dose of appetite suppressing, metabolism boosting protein, an essential yet mostly overlooked part of our daily morning meals…
This is soooo ridiculously easy, it is quicker than regular porridge, yet is so much better for you – I do love a good ‘win-win’ and this truly is one!
You can get chia seeds from various places, try the wonderful Raw Living where you can also get the Sunwarrior protein powder that gives this fab recipe its protein boost. They also sell all sorts of wonderful superfoods you could add in to this or your smoothies, such as maca and ashwagandha, and they do fantastic raw choclate bars and even raw cakes that make a fab alternative to a regular birthday, or even Christmas, cake!
So, once you have your chia, you can either use them whole or grind them in a grinder to make a smoother version.
Add 2 tablespoons of chia to about 250ml water, or use Kara coconut milk alternative (from all major supermarkets and health food shops).
Stir it well, and leave for 10 – 15 mins, the seeds absorb 10 – 15 times their size in fluid! Best if you stir a couple of times during, if not you will need to stir well after the time. You may need to add more fluid as you stir. At this point, you can actually store the chia ‘gel’ for up to 2 weeks in the fridge (depending on what you have used in it) so you can do this the night before for an even speedier breakfast.
You could use warmed milk, or you could soak in a pan then heat the mixture (my preferred method), heating gently to your preferred temperature. No need to actually cook it at all, this is simply to heat it for warming you up purposes!
Then add 2 level scoops of Sunwarrior – I prefer to use the chocolate, or vanilla if you prefer. This is all natural raw brown rice protein sweetened only with the natural herb sweetener, stevia, so is the only protein powder I recommend. Hemp is a great protein but not very tasty for this kind of recipe, but you could alternative try that or go half and half (or add ground hemp seeds for a different taste). Soy protein (and milk) is a no-no…
Stir it all up and add some berries, or grated apple and cinnamon, or whatever you like! You could sprinkle a few chopped nuts on top for added crunch. Add a teaspoon of coconut oil if you want, which can help boost metabolism and has lots of immune boosting properties, as well as increasing the satiety factor further.
Seriously simple – took me way longer to write this than to prepare a bowl, quite simply a brilliant way to start your day.
For more information about chia, as well as loads of great ideas on what to do with it – including turning it into a fruity gel for a kids (or adults’!) dessert, or topping, check out 40 Ways To Use Chia Seeds. I am going to be trying several of these ideas and recipes, and this will be a fantastic way to prevent weight gain over the festive period – filling up with a fibre and protein rich breakfast like this (or having as a snack or dessert, hot or cold) and using chia in many recipes to boost the Omega 3s and fibre.
Let me know your favourite recipes below!
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