Have you heard of Chia? No, I am not talking about the “chia pets” that we had as children (although these were grown from the Chia seed.) I am talking about the Chia seed, which is a seed-like herb that I recommend everyone get to know! When I first was given a bag of Chia by a colleague, it sat on my shelf forever. The last thing I wanted was yet another “superfood” to add to my diet. Now that I have learned more about Chia, though, it has become one of my favorite staples, particularly for my clients who are athletes or busy mothers!
Chia is an ancient plant belonging to the mint family that was cultivated since Aztec times and is grown in the fertile soil of the Amazon basin in Peru. Chia is small and round, has a similar texture to poppy seeds, and is very mild and slightly nutty in flavor.
Here is the real dish, though, on Chia. Not only is Chia high in Omega 3′s like flax seed but it does not have to be ground like flax seed in order to access its nutrition. Additionally, Chia contains 20% high-quality protein, is packed with antioxidants, is high in magnesium, potassium, calcium, and iron and is high in fiber, which aids in digestion. Because of its high potassium and magnesium content,chia is an ideal food for replacing lost antioxidants after a strenuous, sweaty workout.
Chia is gaining in popularity and can now be found in most local health food shops. Chia is easy to add on top of salads, can be sprinkled on top of yogurt or cereals and can be used ground as a substitute for flour when baking. Below is one of my favorite recipes to have for breakfast, or for a post workout pick me up!
Chia Power Pudding
1-2 cups Chia seeds
1-2 cups vanilla almond milk (or coconut milk)
1/4 cup shredded coconut
Option: Maca or hemp seeds
Mix the Chia seeds and most of shredded coconut in a bowl. Pour the almond milk over the mixture and let it sit and absorb the milk. It will turn into a delicious pudding! Top with just a touch of the shredded coconut and savor! This is a delicious snack or post workout mixture!
I am coming out of the closet: Yes, I eat a raw, vegan diet! Most of the time I spend my days in my diet counseling business looking outwardly, trying to help others lose weight, sleep better, reduce stress and the like. While I don’t try to hide the fact that I eat a raw, vegan diet, I usually don’t readily divulge the information because I don’t want to intimidate people or make them think that I want to make them into “mini-me’s.”
Most athletes have read and have been told by their trainers to consume protein, protein, and more protein throughout their day for muscle building and recovery. Our bodies need protein not only to build and help muscles regenerate but protein also plays an important role in the body’s metabolism, hormonal balance, and immune protection.
Lunches are such a tricky thing…on one hand all of the children are comparing what they got in their lunchboxes (and do you really want them to be the ones with the lame lunch?). And, on the other hand, you want to send them off with something nutritious to fuel them through their day that you feel good about and that they will eat! If this is your conundrum, read on!
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