anyone know anything about chia seeds?!?

2

Replies

  • newcs
    newcs Posts: 717 Member
    For bread - just make any quickbread (banana, pumpkin, blueberry, etc) and throw about a tablespoon into the batter. I do this with ground flax seed or wheat germ and it hides well.

    For where to get them...Whole Foods or something might have them but I order mine on Amazon (Nutiva Organic Chia Seeds). It seems kind of expensive (about $16 for a 2pack of 12 ounce bags) but it comes out to less than a quarter per tablespoon. And if you hate them, it's easy to hide them in quick breads or smoothies.
  • allie_girl
    allie_girl Posts: 66
    Try an organic healthfood store - or the organic section of your grocery store. I bought my first batch from Amazon though.
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    Maybe get the new chia cookbook from your library. But basically, you get most benefit from them if eaten right from the package, not added to a muffin or anything baked. I add mine to yogurt.
  • Colleen118
    Colleen118 Posts: 491 Member
    my mom gets into fad diets, the latest one is chia seeds. apparently there great for your health but we now have two great big bags of them and she has lost interest already. so, the question is what can i make with them and how can i work them into the family diet without a lot of effort?

    I add them daily to my activia yogurt for breakfast. You can add them to a salad, crush them into powder to use in making bread,... there is a wealth of information and recipes for using them. Try this:
    http://www.chiaseedrecipes.com/
    and if these don't sound good then turn to your favorite search engine nd search Chia recipies or cooking with Chia seeds :) Best of luck!
  • charleychirp
    charleychirp Posts: 1
    I always cook some kind of whole grain porridge for breakfast. (Cracked Wheat, Steel Cut Oats, Mixed Grains, etc) I sometimes throw in a Tablespoon or so of the seeds into the porridge while it is cooking.
  • jmc0806
    jmc0806 Posts: 1,444 Member
    I haven't tried them yet but I ordered a 1lb bag on Amazon to start making some overnight oatmeal that uses it.
  • Colleen118
    Colleen118 Posts: 491 Member
    Chia seeds are supposed to expand in your stomach, causing you to be fuller faster. They are also high in omega 3's. I usually put them in yogurt, on top of chicken and veggies, in shakes, and in oatmeal. Try something where you can mask the taste in case you don't like it. I like them a lot and I could eat them in spoonfulls hehehe

    No so much a "taste" as it is they are so small that when chewing they are apt to get stuck in teethe like strawberry seeds. adding them to something smooth that is swallowed without chewing is preferred by most users.
  • Mywounds
    Mywounds Posts: 3 Member
    Chia seeds are full of omega 3. Great for bones and joints. You don't have to grind them like you would with flax seeds. I add them to my smoothies and soups.
  • Kkleo2102
    Kkleo2102 Posts: 22
    Because of how much they expand in size they fill you up. They're not bad. I add 2 tablespoons to my breakfast cereal on weekends. I really don't suggest adding it to a smoothie, unless you drink it right away. I let mine sit for a half hour and it was so thick I could barely drink it out of the straw lol. Check out some Raw recipes that use chia seeds. Like chia porridge. I suggest the Red Mill's brand. It's cheaper than most or all of the other brands out there. I think I paid $8 for a bag and there were four other brands that were $15 or more.
  • lruff1987
    lruff1987 Posts: 263 Member
    Chia Seeds are cool because they absorb liquid and become kind of gelatinous. So you can use them to make healthy puddings, to make smoothies, etc. They're really good for you too. :)
  • Fitorbust73
    Fitorbust73 Posts: 80 Member
    I started using Chia seeds about 3 weeks ago --- I love these little seeds. You DO NOT NEED to grind them you can have them as is (unlike flax). They plump up to 10 times there size and work great for thickening things (as opposed to starch or potatoes or cream). They have a great amount of fibre as well as the Omega acids that we all need... My dietician suggested I start using them -- I have them in a glass of water morning and night...LOVE THEM
  • denezy
    denezy Posts: 573 Member
    I make my own granola and protein bars and put them in. Great in oatmeal and any kind of baking, really. Just keep some dental floss on hand. :)
  • Sweetsugar0424
    Sweetsugar0424 Posts: 451 Member
    I have been eating chia seeds in my yogurt almost daily since December after doing some research. I had a couple friends try to push them on me so I did some research and the thing that really triggered my interest is that I had a whole bunch of episodes of migraines last year and they were becoming so frequent that my doctor prescribed meds to help minimize them, but I am not a fan of medications long term so when I read that others found their headaches go away, I decided to try it. I have now been migraine-free since December 27.

    There are SO many benefits to chia seeds and I recommend doing a good search on chia recipes for baking. I've actually made scones using chia seeds as an egg supplement and they were REALLY good!

    Do your research, you won't be sorry.

    ETA: I buy my chia seeds at Costco...they are organic and might be cheaper than a health food store...
  • Colleen118
    Colleen118 Posts: 491 Member
    I have been eating chia seeds in my yogurt almost daily since December after doing some research. I had a couple friends try to push them on me so I did some research and the thing that really triggered my interest is that I had a whole bunch of episodes of migraines last year and they were becoming so frequent that my doctor prescribed meds to help minimize them, but I am not a fan of medications long term so when I read that others found their headaches go away, I decided to try it. I have now been migraine-free since December 27.

    There are SO many benefits to chia seeds and I recommend doing a good search on chia recipes for baking. I've actually made scones using chia seeds as an egg supplement and they were REALLY good!

    Do your research, you won't be sorry.

    ETA: I buy my chia seeds at Costco...they are organic and might be cheaper than a health food store...

    I never even realized.... my migraines have all but left too since using them. I might still wake with one but those used to have me down for the day, now I just take an excedrine when it happens and I'm solid. I never put it together, was just waiting for them to return from their vacation...
  • JeremyMiH
    JeremyMiH Posts: 1
    I'd echo everything that everyone else has said. Great benefits like Omega 3s and feeling fuller, and you can add them to pretty much anything without it really altering the taste at all. Really quite versatile. We make both granola and cereal with Chia Seeds: louisesfoods.com/chia-seed-granola.
  • lafresita
    lafresita Posts: 27
    I make sugar free Jam (jelly) with them: http://ohsheglows.com/2012/06/26/magical-blueberry-vanilla-chia-seed-jam/ Just substitute maple syrup with stevia for reduced sugar

    And Pancakes: http://grainfreegroupie.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/chia-protein-pancakes.html I substitute the coconut flour with half a mashed banana and soak the chia seeds in almond milk for 5 mins before

    And chocolate chia pudding: http://ohsheglows.com/2012/01/11/healthy-chocolate-chia-pudding/ or http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/chocolate-carob-chia-pudding-dairy-free-sugar-free/

    I always keep a jar of 'chia gel' i.e. chia seeds soaked in water (ratio 1:10) ready to add to smoothies/breakfast etc. as it is easier to digest and obtain the full nutrients.
  • notmac
    notmac Posts: 89
    interesting
  • divalivious
    divalivious Posts: 213 Member
    I add them to my yogurt every morning. Have also added it to smoothies and baking. Tossed it on/in rice plain or pilaf and stirfries.
    If you have pintrest do a search you will find some great recipes. I found these two that I havent tried yet but they looked easy and yummy

    Raspberry Coconut Chia Puddin Pops
    http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/08/raspberry-coconut-chia-pudding-pops.html

    Pumpkin Spice Chia Pudding
    http://www.greenplaterule.com/recipes/pumpkin-spice-chia-pudding/
  • divalivious
    divalivious Posts: 213 Member

    ETA: I buy my chia seeds at Costco...they are organic and might be cheaper than a health food store...

    Saw them there once and never picked them up now cause I want to buy them I cant find them. I still keep looking in the hopes I can get them there cause they were far cheaper most the places I saw. Grrrr!!!

    And the migraine thing I get them too and have noticed an improvement. When I take the chia regularly. Never even thought about it before. :) Looks like them things will be a constant companion in my purse when traveling.
  • Jamie_Lauren
    Jamie_Lauren Posts: 211 Member
    I put them on everything - morning oats, in yoghurt, on top of fruit, on cooked chicken breast, in smoothies and stir frys. They are extremely versatile and you can't taste them. :)
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    I had them for breakfast this morning.

    I mashed half a ripe banana, added some liquid egg white and fluffed that together, sprinkled on some ground chia seed. Stirred well, blast in a microwave for a minute or so. Turns out like a sort of pancake.

    It would be nice with a sprinkle of cinnamon, or a drop of vanilla essence.
  • csi4us
    csi4us Posts: 74
    I started using Chia seeds about 3 weeks ago --- I love these little seeds. You DO NOT NEED to grind them you can have them as is (unlike flax). They plump up to 10 times there size and work great for thickening things (as opposed to starch or potatoes or cream). They have a great amount of fibre as well as the Omega acids that we all need... My dietician suggested I start using them -- I have them in a glass of water morning and night...LOVE THEM

    So do you feel full after your morning glass of water with the chia seeds. I have read, because they expand you don't feel hungry. Is that correct?:drinker:
  • xiofett
    xiofett Posts: 138 Member
    No cook refrigerator oatmeal. You don't really taste them, but they absorb excess liquid and give the oatmeal a yogurty texture.

    http://www.theyummylife.com/Refrigerator_Oatmeal
  • molly_grue
    molly_grue Posts: 215 Member
    I use them in my oatmeal. It makes it thicker.
  • sunnshhiine
    sunnshhiine Posts: 727 Member
    I bought a small back of them recently. You can put them in yogurt, smoothies, fresh juices, etc. they are really good for you.
  • LordBear
    LordBear Posts: 239 Member
    make your own chia pet?
  • caseythirteen
    caseythirteen Posts: 956 Member
    I had bought a bag (at Trader Joe's) and had only eaten them once in my salad. That was yummy but was eating yogurt when I read this and decided to add a half tbsp. to it. I found another way to eat them! It was delicious - 1/2 c. plain greek yogurt, 1/2 c. blueberries, 1/4 serving vanilla whey protein powder, 1 tbsp ground flax meal and 1/2 tbsp. chia seeds.
  • KayteeBear
    KayteeBear Posts: 1,040 Member
    You can use them for many things but I use them mainly for yogurt and smoothies.
  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    BUMP
  • jenngi620
    jenngi620 Posts: 51
    Ok, so where can I get them? I've been looking but can't find them locally. Does a regular grocery carry them? Are they usually packaged in a bag, box, packet? I saw the post about Costco, but I don't have a membership. :(

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