Ch-ch-ch-Chia!

This morning (like most mornings) started with a bowl of oats.  Oats are easily my most favourite breakfast staple.  I eat oats almost every morning. 



I have started to get a little adventurous with my oatmeal flavours - I used to be a milk and maple syrup girl.  But now I like to keep things interesting by switching up the flavours every day.  In today's mix:

1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup 1% milk
1 tbsp Chia seeds
1 tsp of peanut butter
1 tsp of Coconut Butter
1 squirt of agave nectar

Yum!

If you are new to healthy living you may have never heard of Chia seeds.  To answer your obvious first question, yes, these are the same seeds that are used for Chia Pets.  Although I am told you should not eat the seeds that come with your Chia Pet as they can me covered in pesticides.  Instead, you can get your Chia seeds at your local health food or bulk food store.  They come in black and white varieties.  There is some debate but the general consensus is that there is not a significant nutritional difference between the two colours.

I first learned about Chia seeds while reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.  If you haven't read this book, you should.  Even if you are not a runner you can still appreciate this great book.  Read it. 

As for Chia seeds, they have been used by the Taramahura tribe (and others) as a natural energy source.  Chia is actually an ancient superfood.  Check out some of the benefits of this tiny seed:

2 times the protein of any other seed or grain 

5 times the calcium of milk, plus boron which is a trace mineral that helps transfer calcium into your bones

2 times the amount of potassium as bananas

3 times the reported antioxidant strength of blueberries  

3 times more iron than spinach  

copious amounts of omega 3 and omega 6, which are essential fatty acids (good fats!)

The other cool thing about Chia seeds is that when they are mixed with fluid they absorb the liquid and turn into a gel.  This gel can be mixed with anything to increase the nutritional profile and volume of the selected food while (usually) decreasing the caloric value.  The seeds have no noticeable flavour when mixed with other foods and add a slightly crunch texture - like the seeds in strawberry jam.  I add Chia seeds to my breakfast almost every day, and I recommend you give it a try too. 

As for the rest of the day tonight is the second game of our Ultimate Frisbee league.  If you have never played it is a cross between soccer and football with a Frisbee and no tackling.  I love it.  Go team!