Healthy shit your kids might eat: Chia Pudding edition

You have to open your mind for this one. When she saw the snack of chia pudding I was giving my daughter, my stepmom, who loves food, declined to even taste it. Something about chia pudding can offend one’s sensibilities, but I’m used to that attitude in my house, because almost every food offends someone’s sensibilities.

Chia pudding is terribly simple, which is why I am such a big fan. Plus, chia seeds, found at any grocery store these days, contain antioxidants, protein and fiber. Why my daughter said yes to this, I am not sure. Perhaps it was the word “pudding”, which is frankly misleading.

Combine chia seeds with almond milk or coconut milk and let them sit for 20 minutes or so. The seeds get gelatinous, which is why it will gross some people out, but if you can get your kid to eat it, it’s a more nutrient dense snack than a piece of fruit and has less sugar than a Zbar.

I discovered chia pudding when I did a 2-week supported cleanse with my friend Marnie, who suggests diced apple in your chia pudding. Scarlett prefers no apple — and for me to indulge her with vanilla or chocolate almond milk, which I frequently do. (So much for less sugar than a Zbar.)

She and I got hooked on this snack and ate tons of it for a month. For adults who are struggling through some kind of no sugar/no carb plan, it’s a wonderful DO EAT food.

Chia pudding

Recipe courtesy of Becoming Health

1/2 cup chia seeds
2 cups unsweetened almond milk
1/2 tsp cinnamon (or to taste)
1 apple, chopped

1. Mix first three ingredients. Stir thoroughly.
2. Add in chopped apple. Stir thoroughly.
3. Let sit for 5 minutes to thicken pudding.
This should be more than enough for two servings. Put one in the fridge for a snack tomorrow.

We tried strawberries instead of apples one day. Meh. Apples and cinnamon are the winning combination.

Will your kid eat this?

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Whitney

RookieMoms.com co-founder Whitney lives with her husband, son, and daughter in the San Francisco Bay Area where she writes about parenting, crafts, and activities that moms can do with babies in tow. She and Heather also publish 510Families.com, a site for East Bay parents.