Once upon a time I taught a workshop that was called "EAT TO LIVE." This class focused on the concept of eating real food, as presented by Whole Foods Market. 

To me, eating real food means food that was grown naturally and is in it's most natural form. So this EXCLUDES anything that comes in packages and that includes man made ingredients. Eating real food is what our bodies were created for. It just so happens that our bodies will also tolerate a lot of man made and processed foods - at least for awhile. 

When we eat REAL food, it's unbeliveable how much our bodies will thank us. You will be amazed at how much your body will thrive when you take away all of the "extra" ingredients that don't do anything for you. 

Some of the food items we discussed in my workshop included almond milk and salad dressings or marinades. These are just a few of the products that we buy without ever thinking about what all of those numerous ingredients are. So, what happens if we choose to make our own almond milk and salad dressings? Or just learn what ingredients to avoid? All good things!! 

Long story short- when we made our own almond milk in class I taught everyone how to make chia pudding with it. Chia pudding is simple, nutritious, and extremely filling! Chia seeds are a complete protein, meaning they contain all of the essential amino acids. I like them because they don't have a flavor so you can choose to flavor them however you want. They are easy to throw in smoothies, protein bars, baked goods, or in this case - chia pudding. 

I like to eat chia pudding for breakfast or as a snack throughout the day. My favorite thing is how convenient it is - if you don't have time to make breakfast or pack snacks on a daily basis, you could make 5 jars of chia pudding over the weekend and voila- breakfast is done for the week! 

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup almond milk or non dairy milk of your choice 

3 T chia seeds 

Flavor/Topping Options: 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 T maple or honey, pinch of salt, granola, fresh fruit, mango pureé, cacao nibs, diced dried fruit, spirulina, etc. 

NOTE: Chia pudding is kind of like porridge, anything goes! 

DIRECTIONS:

Place your almond milk and chia seeds in a mason jar or container of your choosing. Remember, you can make several containers at once to have enough for the week if you are meal prepping. 

Shake the jar or stir until it is well combined. 

Place in the fridge for about an hour. Then shake/stir again. It might clump up some, so you'll have to break them apart if necessary. It should be fairly thick. If it's too thick, add more milk. If it's too thin, add more chia seeds. 

Once it is at the consistency of your choice, you can add in the flavorings or toppings you desire and place in the fridge until you are ready to eat it. 

Easy Peasy!! Let me know if you need help, but I hope you like it! 

xoxo

Emma