Fit Fare

You remember the commercial, don’t you? That snappy little jingle that was followed by the TV announcer telling you all you had to do was spread the magic chia seeds on the animal shaped pot, water and poof you had a nice little Chia Pet…? I never had a Chia Pet, but I did give the Chia Herb Garden a go once.

Now, much to my surprise, I’m learning chia seeds are a healthy vegetable source of protein and omega-3s along with an impressive amount of vitamins, minerals and soluble fiber, according to the press release from Navita’s Naturals.

The seeds are sustainably harvested in the highlands of Chile and marketed by Navitas Naturals in whole seed and sprouted whole seed powder. According to the press release, chia seeds have a great deal in common with highly regarded flaxseed, but has the added benefit of containing natural antioxidants which they say make it a more stable product. The sprouted seeds are processed into powder form by low temp milling and this apparently increases the nutrient content, bio-availability and absorption.

So, ok, it’s good for you, but how do you use it and incorporate it into your diet? Navitas Naturals recommends that you blend the seeds into smoothies, granola, oatmeal and yogurt. Also, sprinkle the seeds on soups, salads and rice dishes. Use the seed powder as a flour substitute for bread, muffins, cookies, and pies. You can find helpful chia seed recipes from the company by clicking here.

The company sent me a teeny tiny little packet of seeds (less than 2 tablespoons). I used their recipe for making what they call a chia gel. You basically soak the seeks in water or juice and the seeds produce a gel like substance that can be used as a thickening agent. I added the chia gel to my smoothie for breakfast. I found it to be tasteless and odorless. Since I didn’t have enough to make more than one serving of the chia gel, I can’t tell you that all their claims are true and how it affected my body, but I can tell you it didn’t do anything bad to my smoothie!