Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

When you are craving something chocolatey but want the nutritional benefit of some super foods, this  pudding is a great option.  It uses two of my favorite superfoods, chia seeds and raw cacao.

Let's take a minute to explore the benefits before I give you the recipe.  Chia seeds were carried in the pockets of Aztek messengers to give them energy as they ran from location to location and they are making a big comeback. They are tiny little seeds that expand in liquid and help you feel full.  They are packed with fiber, omega 3's, calcium, manganese, phosphorus and protein.  Chia seeds help stabilize blood sugar and fight insulin resistance, therefore helping to fight belly fat. They are good for heart health and contain tryptophan ( yep the stuff in turkey) which helps to regulate your appetite, improve your mood and help you sleep! All this in a tiny little seed! Hail to the chia!

This recipe also contains another favorite super food of mine, raw cacao.  This is cocoa in it's raw, unprocessed form. Cacao is packed with antioxidants to help destroy free radicals in your cells and tissues.  Antioxidants also help reduce inflammation which can lead to arthritis and can even help to reduce blood clots. We all knew antioxidants were good for us, but who knew we could have chocolately goodness and antioxidants in the same bite!  Raw cacao is also good for your heart and studies have shown it may even interfere with the development of cancer.

Without further adieu, I present to you Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Disclaimer: this will have the texture of tapioca - I know that bothers some people

1 c. Non dairy milk ( I used almond)
3 Tbsp of chia seeds
1 Tbsp of raw cacao powder
1 Tbsp of pure maple syrup
1 tsp of pure vanilla extract.

Stir all the ingredients together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.  This gives the chia seeds time to expand and the pudding will thicken and gel.