Following up on our last blog about understanding Chia Seeds, we have done some research on some easy ways to eat Chia Seeds and have listed 6 ways in this blog. Chia seeds provide more omega-3s, calcium, phosphorus, and fiber than flaxseeds. Their multi-nutrients and versatile nature make chia seeds a very popular and trending food item. However, it is not recommended for children and for people who have problems in swallowing. You can check out the Kathmandu Organics website for high-quality chia seeds if you’re interested in buying them.
1. Chia seed pudding
Chia seed pudding is a great way to start off your day. It is also the most common form of incorporating chia seeds into one’s diet. To make chia pudding, use 1 cup of a milk alternative like almond or oat milk with 3 tablespoons chia seeds, mix well, and refrigerate overnight. You can also use any juice instead of alternative milk. You can mix in some fruits, nuts, coconut shavings, powders, or spices as chia seeds do not have much flavor.
2. Chia water
Another way of incorporating chia seeds is to make chia water. For this, soak 1/4 cup (40 grams) of chia seeds in 4 cups (1 liter) of water for 20–30 minutes. You can squeeze in a lemon-lime to give more flavors.
3. A substitute of the Egg (baking only)
As mentioned above, chia seeds can be used as an alternative to the egg in baking. So fellow vegans can now rejoice. To substitute for an egg, use 1 tablespoon finely ground chia seeds (grind them dry in a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder) and add 3 tablespoons of water per egg in a baked recipe.
4. For Topping
The easiest way to incorporate chia seeds in your diet would be to use it as a topping in salads, fruits, and eggs. You can add a generous amount into your food and get a boost of extra nutrients. Not to worry, it does not impact the taste of the food itself.
5. Meat and fish coating
For meat lovers, you can use chia seeds to coat your meat and fish instead of starchy white flour. For this, ground the chia seeds into a fine powder and you can either mix it with your breadcrumb or use it as a substitute and add the mixture to a cup of cornmeal or almond meals.
6. Smoothies
For people who workout and eat smoothies, you can gel up the chia seeds by soaking in water beforehand and add it to your smoothies for extra nutrients.