Cha Cha Cha Chia!

Alllllll the rage nowadays is about Chia, and not the tacky Chia pets of the fabulous 1990s (or is that the other way around?). So what's so amazing about chia seeds?

They are derived from a Central American mint-family plant, the bad boy lookin like this here:

Chia seeds are incredibly high in Omega 3s, as well as fairly high in protein (for their size). They are often consumed in drinks, and can themselves be soaked to absorb liquid (a popular way to consume chia seeds in Mexico is to soak them in fruit juice for chia fresca). They are also commonly used in porridge, and are being used more widely in baked products.

I have found chia seeds to be a great addition to a number of foods throughout my day:

Baked goodies (chia seeds have no taste, so they are an easy addition to any baked good)

Smoothies

Yogurt topping (instead of sugar-laden granola)

I have yet to try making "chia pudding," made by mixing chia with a liquid (I assume something like almond milk would be great), mixing the two like a maniac for a minute, then setting aside for a bit before consuming. Chia seeds get all gelatinous upon contact with liquid, so I don't know about this concoction. Maybe on a crazy Saturday night some day.

I bought the Nutiva chia seeds at the local natural foods store, but plan on getting more at Trader Joe's, as I am guessing cost is better there (and until I hit it big in blog ad revenues, I will continue to seek chia seed sales.)

So get your chia on!