Tune in tonight at 9PM EST for the 3rd Episode of Love In The Kitchen TV LIVE. This week we are answering your questions- whatever they may be on whatever you like. We? Yes ‘we’! I have a special guest co-host joining me, Ms. Vanessa Farquharson, author of Green As A Thistle and the book Sleeping Naked Is Green.
Did you listen to the podcast yesterday? I loved when Ashley talked about the importance of celebrating the small victories along the way to living the healthiest way we can. When discussing weight-loss, she said one of the keys is to set goals- some great big ones and some smaller milestones along the way. This applies not just to weight loss, of course, but pretty much to absolutely everything.
One of the things Ashley did mention was to celebrate the great achievement of having a healthy breakfast. I am a firm believer that when we are trying to transition our diet from wherever we may be to a healthier spot, the easiest and most attainable transitions happen when we are honest with ourselves about where we are, and then take it one step in the right direction.
We know that I love my super-powered oatmeal and green smoothies, but if you are still rocking out the Kasha (sugar-riffic) cereal or perhaps your fave fat-free strawberry yogurt (sugar-rrific and kinda-gross), then expecting you to give all that up and start making your own sprouted buckwheat granola is like me asking you to buy a bicycle one day and ride 660km to Montreal the next (wait… I did that). What am I trying to say? Baby steps.
At this point, most of what I eat, I make myself. Most of the products I am sent get left out on my curb for my friendly neighbourhood grocery cart wielders. When I received an email asking if I was familiar with Chia Goodness cereal and if I would like a sample, straight away I asked for an ingredient list. I don’t like to take things just because they’re free.
The ingredient list made my heart sing. There was not a single ingredient in this delicious, conveniently packaged cereal that I couldn’t buy at my local health food store. So for those of you wanting to make some changes, or looking for some easy peezy ready made short cuts for your busy life, allow me to introduce you to my current favoruite oatmeal topper Ruth’s Chia Goodness.
Do you know what the ingredient label said? Chia (salvia hispanica L.), buckwheat, hulled hemp seeds, Celtic Sea Salt. That’s it! I love it. You can order it online too.
That makes this an excellent first step in the right direction. What if you were to eat the cereal you already eat- but just add 1 or 2 tablespoons of this healthy 1-2 punch to your breakfast. A small victory to celebrate!
If you are not already familiar with Ruth’s other tasty goodies, I highly recommend you get familiar. I love the Ginger Almond MacaPower Bars and wowsers on the Hemp Tortilla chips.
My favourite ways to eat this crispy crunchy chia mix:
- On top of my morning oatmeal
- Sprinkled on to yogurt
- Sprinkled on to my fave dessert: coconut milk ice cream
- Sprinkled on to my Swiss Muesli
- Added to my Banana Chocolate Chip Cuppins
- Mixed into these Seedy treats
- Mixed in for a hearty trail mix
- Add to my blender to include with my morning breakfast smoothie
- The original variety and cranberry ginger is great over salads
- Mix in with my extra delicious Cookies as Medicine
Creating a powerful super-food-ariffif blend is a great way to cut down on meal prep time. Of course- if you have all these ingredients in your kitchen, you can easily mix and match your own too. Ruth’s just makes it a wee easier.
Want to give Ruth’s Chia Goodness a try? Let me know your fave way to eat chia seeds and you are entered just like that, to win two bags of this awesome cereal. That’s over 20 breakfasts worth.
And you know all those other complicated contest rules like about blogging the contest and getting extra entries and tweeting and facebooking and yadda yadda? Well you can do that to if you like too. Of course Ruth and I would love you to help spread the word, but a simple comment below will fly too.
Want to know something else kind of fun? Ruth of Ruth’s Foods happens to be the momma of our sweet little Zoey, the Kombucha Fairy
Announcements! This weekend, I will be announcing the brand shiny new tutorial that will be released before the month is through. You have been asking for this one for a long time now and she is at last ready to show her pretty face. Wait and see!
PDF 
Facebook
Flickr
LinkedIn
Twitter
RSS
Youtube
iTunes
Before you and the Making Love in the Kitchen blog I didn’t know what a chia seed was now I love chia mixed with olive oil/apple cider vinegar as a salad dressing!
My baby step change was making a green smoothie everyday for breakfast, and there is always at least a tbsp of chia seeds going in!! I started doing this in January primarily because I thought it was such a great way to increase the number of fruits and vegetables I eat, and in the meantime I’ve lost 10 lbs without even trying! Maybe 10 lbs in 5 months isn’t the most impressive rate of weight loss, but it feels wonderful to know that it came from such a small change that has become part of my lifestyle (and is just good for me!)
I love put chia seeds in my green smoothies. It keeps me full and satisfied all morning long.
I add chia seeds to my smoothies; to my chocolate explosion pudding (recipe here: http://gamereviewwiki.com/bikinibirthday/2010/03/15/day-48/); to my cereal; and to my salads!
Chia seeds are one of my top 10 foods, for sure–and these ingredients sound incredible! I could actually have this stuff on the ACD–whoo hoo!
Oh–favorite way to eat it? Simple chia pudding. (Though I’ve since evolved and now put in pureed berries–it’s heaven).
Chia seeds are great! I love them in my smoothies for sure but my absolute favourite way to eat them is in a bowl of overnight oats. They make the oats so creeeeamy. Yum! I would love to try some of this cereal as a healthy oatmeal topper because I never mind doubling up on the chia.
I love chia seeds in my green smoothies, because of you!!!
And NEW TUTORIAL, woohoo!!!!
I have chia seeds in smoothies, of course, but I’ve also been adding them to oatmeal, cereal, and even the occasional healthy cookie (my preschooler needs all the extra fiber she can get). We’d love to try this cereal!
I’ve yet to try chia seeds, so I’d love to try the cereal
I sprinkle chia seeds on my oat or buckwheat groats in the morning. I love the little powerhouses of energy and nutrition! Thanks for the offer Meghan!
I discovered chia a few years ago via ChocoSol. I’d say my favourite chia recipe is to soak them in nut milk, add something sweet and eat them like that.
I’m on day 1 of the green smoothie cleanse today (went with kale boost for breakfast) and I’m surprised how well the chia blended into the smoothie.
I also noticed that the other two kinds of chia goodness (not the original) have sugar in them (though still probably better than most cereals).
Excellent giveaway! I have been wanting to try chia seeds (and hemp seeds for that matter!) for a while now. They are on the list of pantry items to add little by little as I transform my pantry. So, I can’t tell you my favorite way to enjoy chia seeds, but if I win I will be sure to report back
I tweeted this @ordinaryveg
Thanks again!
Oh! I’ve seen this cereal at my local raw food store, but have yet to try it! I love to add Chia’s to my smoothie to thicken them, but my favorite way to eat chia is, like most others, in a decadent chocolate pudding. Here’s one of my favorite recipes: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/breath-body-balance/2010/04/eat-this-easy-chocolate-chia-superfood-pudding-recipe.html
I am totally entering this because I just got a sample of that and it’s AMAZING!!
I love my chia seeds in everything… smoothies, oatmeal… baking… anything really!!
mmmm I eat chia seeds in vegan overnight oats or cooked oatmeal. It gives the oatmeal the best texture and makes it even more filling.
I add chia seeds to quinoa porridge for my breakfast about three times a week. They are also part of my “seed mix” that I toss on the top of salads.
I’ve just started experimenting with chia. would love to try Ruth’s version.
I’m entering on behalf of Hubby, who does not yet read here, but hears all about you!
After reading “Born to Run”, Hubby was inspired to take up running and chia fresca. The original version of chia, lime, water and sugar has morphed into what we laughingly call “Grape Chi-High”. It is made from: 3 cups water, 2 generous tbsp chia seeds, 2 tsp honey, 2 cubes of frozen grape juice. (The juice is from grapes I picked, juiced and froze in ice cube trays, but store bought would work for those who don’t have a friend with an organic vineyard.) The ingredients get mixed in a cute glass pitcher purchased especially for our chia drink. Makes two servings.
Hubby drinks his after a run. I often take mine to sip at work. It looks much like purple frog spawn, so not only is it good for me, it freaks out my co-workers too!
I am definitely in love with your pumpkin chia seed muffins – definitely my favorite way to eat chia seeds! When I bake these, the house smells heavenly and I seriously need to freeze half right away or my husband and I will eat them all in a matter of days! I’ve never tried chia in my smoothies or oatmeal, so I’d love to get started with Ruth’s!
My favourite way to eat chia seeds is something I just discovered…in “overnight oats”. I put chia seeds, oats, almond milk in the fridge overnight and in the morning the liquid is absorbed and the oats and chia are ready to eat (with super powered toppings of course).
So far, the only way I have used chia seeds is throwing it in my morning smoothie spectacular!
I am obsessed with chia seeds. I make a pudding with them (chia + almond milk + a smidge of stevia and/or raw cacao), or put them in smoothies, or make your salmon no-mayo salad all the time – I need to experiment with other recipes too. I would love to be entered for the giveaway. Thank you
Oh my goodness that cereal looks amazing! I love to put chia seeds in my homemade protein bars. I also loved your seed love bars in the superfoods tuturial! Speaking of tutorials, I’m excited to see the new one!
I love chia seeds! I really like adding a tablespoon or two into the food processor when I make pesto.
hey meghan! i LOVE chia seeds and am always ecstatic to read about them knowing that more and more people are finally getting to know about this wonderful superfood! my favorite way to eat them is in my pumpkin pie custard! i boil almond milk with some agar agar flakes, then mix in some chia seeds and let it sit in my fridge overnight or for at least 3 hours. I then mix the gelled concoction with canned organic pumpkin, pumpkin spice, a dash of vanilla and 5- 6 drops of liquid stevia and a dash of salt. OMIGOSH. party. in. my. mouth!!
Elaine- that sounds deeeelishus
I have tried the apple cinnamon flavored one. Good.
Ooooh. I make two hormone supporting granolas, one for each phase of the month. During the follicular phase I stress B6 and zinc and serve it mixed into CHIA PUDDING, so I have a constant source of omega 3′s. (I dehydrate: sprouted amaranth, sprouted buckwheat, dried plums, dried apricots, soaked pistachios, sprouted sunflower seeds, and soaked pecans). For the luteal phase I stress red foods, estrogenic foods, and iron, and serve it in teff porridge and sprinkle it with flax meal (sprouted amaranth, sprouted red quinoa, sprouted sesame seeds, sprouted almonds, sprouted pumpkin seeds, dried strawberries, dried raspberries, dried cranberries, goji berries, and a little cherry juice).
Now isn’t that brilliant Stephanie!
I like chia in my smoothies, on salads and in soup. I add a couple of table spoons into each.
Crazy – I JUST saw this brand for the first time at my grocery store yesterday and passed on it since I still have a little of my regular chia seeds left. I’d love to spice up my routine with some of these flavors though! I usually put chia seeds in my morning oats and green smoothies, but sometimes I just put a tablespoon or two in a bowl, covered with almond milk and let it sit for half an hour. Mmmmm, gelatinous goodness!
yummy — we love chia seeds at our house — especially in green smoothies or oatmeal. Thanks Meghan!
In smoothies, for sure!
My favorite way to eat chia seeds is in your maple oatmeal super cookies. I love ‘em.
Renee
Is there really any difference between Chia seeds and salba
I like Ruth’s products. I’ve bought her hemp flax & maca protein powder a few times – though I like to change up my powders and try new ones. I also like that it’s a local company. I prefer to support local companies when their product is at least as good as the product of their non-local colleagues.
Chia seeds: In smoothies, on salads, in home made granola, in oatmeal… the possibilities are endless. I keep a little jar at my desk to sprinkle on lunch and sometimes eat a handful of seeds plain. (A small handful, them being tiny.)
Pumpkin pie custard is a great idea! I must remember to try that.
[...] Chia Goodness Winner! [...]
[...] than most foods found in the supermarket. Then we have the ’super-powered’ foods like chia seeds, cacao, goji berrries, maca, spirulina and aloe. These exotic powerhouses might come from a bit of [...]