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Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding ~ Gluten Free and Vegan

February 13, 2018

Chocolate chia pudding is so simple and amazingly delicious. It’s the easiest healthy dessert recipe you can make with no baking.

It’s creamy, chocolatey, indulgent and yet, loaded with nutrients. Bonus, it’s also vegan and dairy-free. A winner of a dessert recipe that you’ll make again and again.

Health Benefits of chia seeds

Chia seeds are very popular now among foodies, especially as chia pudding, while they have long been praised for endurance by Native Americans. You may not know that there are two varieties, gray black and golden chia seeds, of which the former is nutritionally more superior. Chia seeds reduce both kapha and vata and can be used in moderation by pitta. Chia seeds have many health benefits although some people do not tolerate them well. You will not know until you try them.

Heart Health: Chia seeds are high in omega 3 fatty acids (EPA), which help lower the undesirable LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood that can cause heart disease and stroke.

Bone Health: They are also high in calcium and magnesium, which promote healthy bones and teeth as well as iron (great for people with iron anemia or low ferritin levels), folate and soluble fiber.

Gut Health: Soaking the seeds for even one hour releases their mucilaginous (gumlike) beneficial fiber, which promotes a healthy blood glucose, lubricates dryness, relieves constipation, reduces nervousness, helps with insomnia, and improves mental focus.

People do not realize that chia seeds can also be sprouted just like other seeds, and if you do not soak them, you may want to grind them before you add them to your meal. Otherwise, you will poop the seeds intact: the only grinders we have are our teeth and they are not a match for this tiny seed!

Making your own Non-Dairy Milk

Non dairy milk is a great industry and there are almost too many choices in the grocery stores. What bothers me is that you overpay and create need to dispose of more packaging. Most of the milk products contain gums, which some very ill people may be sensitive to. They are also fortified or enriched with synthetic vitamins such as D2, not the ideal form of Vitamin D to consume. Finally, unless you see the word “unsweetened” on the box, there will be sugar added. Do not assume that “original” means unflavored. Always look at the “other ingredients” at the bottom of the nutrition fact box.

It is so easy to make your own milk. You can blend some cooked brown rice** with water, a pinch of Celtic sea salt (and a date and vanilla extract- optional) or blend a handful of cashews and some hemp seeds with water and the same optional ingredients…or grab some almonds and make an almond milk – below is my easy almond milk video. The only thing you need to remember is that your milk will not stay fresh very long and that it will separate, so you have to shake it before each use. Therefore, use a mason jar with a lid- this way you can shake it as much as you want and keep it in the fridge.

I hope you love this healthy sweet treat of Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding! Looking for more recipes with functional nutrition benefits? We have many more on the recipe blog here!

**To learn how to get rid of arsenic in rice, read more here.