When I first tried chia seeds (in the form of chia pudding), I wasn’t a fan. I wanted to like them: they’re so good for you. But eating something just because it’s good for you?
Ridiculous!
You don’t have to suffer for health.
If you aren’t big on a certain food, there are plenty of ways to get all your nutrients somewhere else. For example, my sister hates bananas. So she gets her potassium from foods she does like, such as yams, spinach, and broccoli. No big deal. Remember that mental health is an important component to overall health, too. If you’re choking down foods you detest, your mental health will suffer.
Going back to the chia… Although I didn’t like the pudding, I was willing to give the seeds a second chance. Perhaps I’d enjoy them in a different form. After all, everyone in the blogworld seems to adore them. So when the Health Warrior Company offered me some samples, I accepted.
And I discovered that I do like chia seeds. They are awesome in oatmeal!
Never-Ending Oatmeal Bowl
(serves 1)
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 1/2 cups milk of choice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup more milk of choice
- sweetener and add-ins of choice
Either cook oats, milk, and salt on the stovetop, or place your oats and salt in a large, microwaveable dish (I use a pyrex 4-cup measurer) with the milk of choice. Microwave 1 and 1/2 minutes, then add your chia and 1/2 cup more liquid. Microwave 2 more minutes. Don’t open the microwave door yet. Instead, leave your mixture for five minutes. Then stir and put in the fridge—uncovered—overnight. Next day, it will magically be thick and ready for your favorite add-ins!
For sweetener, try using The Melted Banana Trick.
Also, I really like to put the cooked oatmeal in my Magic Bullet and blend just a little. This “blended grains” trick really helps all the flavors to meld together.
Do you ever eat foods you don’t really like, just because they’re good for you?
Or do you ever feel pressured to eat a certain food because other bloggers like it? We are all different and our bodies crave different things (and amounts). We should NOT base our food choices on what anyone else is eating. It’d be really weird (not to mention boring) if we were all exactly the same.
This is one of the main reasons I’m not planning on doing another “day in the life” post even though a lot of readers have asked. I don’t feel comfortable knowing others will compare their eating habits to mine or try to mimic what I eat. The way I eat is only perfect for me. You need to listen to your own body, not to what anyone around you is doing.
Monica says
Thanks, Katie! I actually did feel a little pressured to try something I was pretty sure I hated…chia seeds! My husband and I tried them about a year ago and just could not find a way to incorporate them into our diet that wasn’t disguisting (to us). I don’t know how I missed your post on it.
BUT, after browsing around your site the other day, I came across this recipe and thought, “Phtt…if Katie put it in oatmeal I bet it tastes pretty good. Guess I’ll give it another shot”.
SO, maybe not pressured, but inspired to try something again. Thanks again for the great recipe. It’s been my breakfast three days running 🙂
Bee says
Hi I have wanted to know this for ages and was wondering if you could help me? I have heard chia seeds are really good for thickening things and adding nutrients to e.g. possidge and I wanted to get some but they are really expensive! Howver linseeds/flaxseeds are uch cheaper and i was wondering what the difference was and which one I should buy? If they are both pretty much the same I’ll know to buy flax because they are also cheap! Thanks!!
Unofficial CCK Helper says
Sorry, they are not the same. Try a place like WalMart for cheaper chia seeds.
Nicole says
Try buying them in bulk from a grocery or health food store – they’re so much cheaper in the bulk bins then they are prepackaged.
Umi Akiyoshi says
can i cook this in a mason jar instead of a pyrex cup?
Eva says
This is so good! I’ve just got my my braces, so my teeth are very sensitive and this recipe is my saviour! It goes wonderfully with the cereal milk and I’m sure I’ll be making this recipe a million times more!!
angie says
Put them in drinks (I like how they become gelatinous and I like the sound of the word gelatinous, on oatmeal, in muffins, on fruit, and wherever else my imagination and taste buds lead me… 😉
Joanna says
Hey Katie have you ever tried camelina seeds? http://oilhealthbenefits.com/camelina-oil/
They are a good substitute for chia.
anonymous says
This is my new favorite breakfast recipe. I am OBSESSED!!!
Kate says
Great recipe! I’ve been making them all week!
Pippa says
I love the idea of this and I’ve tried it a few times now, you get such a great yield for such a small amount of oats! I can’t seem to get over the chia taste/texture though. It feels a bit frogspawny to me.
Any tips on things I can add?
Sofia says
I just tried this and it truly is never ending – I am so stuffed, this would last at least two servings!
Nikole says
I love chia seeds i make chia seed pudding at least once a week you can also make chia seed and oatmeal vegan cookies
I also add it to my smoothie bowls yogurt and oatmeal
I LOVE chia seeds