Why Chia Seeds are Amazing and How to Eat Them for Every Meal

Have you tried chia seeds yet? If not, you're seriously missing out. Those tiny black and white pin pricks that look like they wouldn't have any affect on your body at all are the total opposite. They are amazing - so much so that I eat them every single day without fail! Because they're so tiny, mild in flavour and versatile, you can easily add them into practically every meal to give your body a nutritional boost it will definitely thank you for.

Why are chia seeds good for you?

There are so many answers to this question that I could spend the rest of the day typing them up. But to save your eyes (and my fingertips!) I'll only list the most important ones:

•  Chia seeds give you a huge amount of nutrients for hardly any calories. A 1oz/28g serving of chia seeds has just 137 calories, but provides you with 42% RDA fiber, 18% RDA calcium, 30% RDA manganese, 30% RDA magnesium and 27% RDA phosphorus. All that in less than 3 tablespoons of seeds!
• Chia seeds are really high in protein - more so than most plant foods. This makes them a great source of protein for everyone - vegetarians, vegans and carnivores.
• Chia seeds are loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent slow cell damage caused by free radicals. Not sure why that's a good thing? When free radicals affect DNA cells, all kinds of serious diseases can develop, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. You can learn more about antioxidants and free radicals on Greatist.com.

Why are chia seeds so popular?

Okay, so not everyone is into healthy food, right? And seeds can be one of the toughest things to get people to eat. I mean, what are you meant to do with them apart from sprinkle them on a salad or bake them into a loaf of bread if you're a skilled baker with hours to spare? This is why I think chia seeds are so popular - because they're so easy to add into your diet!

Generally, if we can improve our health and be good to our bodies by hardly changing our routine, we'll do it. So here are plenty of ways which show you how to eat chia seeds which hardly require any lifestyle changes on your part!

Credit: Flickr

Where can I buy chia seeds?

Chia seeds are not easy to get a hold of, so most people prefer to buy them online. Not only are they easy to buy this way, but you can compare prices between different sites quickly and easily, too, so you know when you're getting a good deal. Sunburst Superfoods sells organic black chia seeds for less than $12 per pound, which is less than what I pay from my local health food store. But hey, I live on a tiny island where practically no companies deliver to, so I can't do much about that. Better still, if you're a first time Sunburst Superfoods customer, use this link to get a 10% discount off your entire order! You don't need to do anything special - just place your order by clicking on the link above and you'll get your discount. Plus I'll get a little bit of affiliate moolah which I can use to continue bringing you awesome free content. Everyone's a winner!

How to eat chia seeds for breakfast

• Add them into your favourite smoothie recipe. You don't need to change any of the other ingredients - simply add a tablespoon of chia seeds into your blender and blend away! The longer you leave your smoothie to sit, the thicker the chia seeds will make it, so drink up!
• Stir them into your oatmeal or use them in overnight oats. This is how I eat my chia seeds. After I've cooked my oatmeal, I stir 1 tablespoon of chia seeds in. Or if I'm making overnight oats, I add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds into the bowl when I'm mixing everything together before I put the oats into the serving jar. Chia seeds absorb water, so you might need to add a little extra milk or yogurt when making overnight oats to get the right texture.

More breakfast chia seed recipes:

• Chia Seed Breakfast Bowl
• Raspberry Almond Overnight Oats
• Strawberry Lemon Chia Seed Protein Muffins
• Apple 'n' Oats Breakfast Smoothie
• Vegan Chia Seed Pancakes

Credit: Flickr

How to eat chia seeds for lunch and dinner

• Use chia seeds to thicken sauces in casseroles and one-pot dishes. Simply add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds per portion into the liquid of the casserole and carry on cooking the dish as normal! You'll never be able to tell the chia seeds are there and they're a great way of thickening up a sauce without using flour.
• Sprinkle them over a salad for added crunch. I know I joked about it earlier, but sprinkling chia seeds onto salads is another one of my favourite ways to eat them! It's a great way to add extra crunch without resorting to croutons.

More lunch and dinner chia seed recipes

• Grain-free chia buckwheat pizza
• Kale and farro salad with lemon chia dressing
• Cornmeal and chia seed encrusted tilapia
• Chia meatballs with easy marinara sauce
• Raw chia falafel

Credit: Flickr

How to eat chia seeds for a snack and dessert

• Use chia seeds to make chia seed pudding. There are so many different chia seed pudding recipes out there that you'll be spoilt for choice. This overnight chocolate chia seed pudding from the Minimalist Baker looks like heaven to me!
• Add chia seeds to your baking. Chia seeds lock in moisture really well, making the texture of baked goods they're used in incredible! Whip up this gluten-free chocolate chia seed cake and see for yourself!

More snack and dessert chia seed recipes:

• Chocolate and raspberry chia seed pudding
• Lemon chia seed protein cookies
• Mini chocolate chia seed pudding pies
• No-bake chia seed energy bites
• Blueberry and chia seed cashew cake