Frugal Foodie Mama: Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding

A simple healthy recipe gets a kick of intense vanilla flavor in this Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding...

Okay, you all- I finally jumped on the chia seed bandwagon, and now I am wondering why I ever waited so long. I may have had a little bit of a prejudice against them before because all I could think of when someone mentioned chia seeds were chia pets. Do you all know what I am talking about? (And now that jingle from the television commercial is stuck in my head- Chi, chi, chi, chiaaaa... ;) )

But nevertheless I had been kind of curious about chia seeds for the past few months, but I had no clue where I would even buy them here in small town West Virginia. Then lo and behold, one day I was shopping at my local ALDI and there they were on the shelf- a bag for less than $3! I mean, what did I have to lose really? So I grabbed a bag and started asking around to my fellow food bloggers what were their favorite ways to enjoy and prepare them. Many said that they loved sprinkling them over yogurt (which is yum, by the way) or mixed into smoothies. But again and again, they mentioned chia pudding.

The first couple of times that I tried making chia pudding I got the ratios off, and my pudding ended up more like a slurpy mess. But this latest attempt? I nailed it! :) I decided that I want to stick to a simple chia pudding recipe, but added a kick of intense vanilla flavor. By stirring in a simple teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, this healthy and easy to make pudding becomes almost like a creamy vanilla dessert. You could also substitute a teaspoon of vanilla extract, but trust me on this- splurging a little for some good quality vanilla bean paste is so worth it for this recipe. Enjoy this Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding simply as is or feel free to top it with your favorite fruits, berries, or nuts...

Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding

by Frugal Foodie Mama

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: None

Ingredients (1 serving)

3 tbsp chia seeds
2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
Sweetener of choice (I used 1 packet of Pure Via- you could use sugar, honey, etc or just use sweetened almond milk.)

Instructions

In a pint jar or glass, combine the chia seeds, almond milk, vanilla bean paste, and sweetener. Stir well. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.

Stir before serving and top with the fruit or nuts of your choice.

Cover and refrigerate any leftover pudding.

Enjoy!

Okay, since you all may be asking this- Why chia seeds anyways? I did a little research online because I wanted to answer that question for myself before I had even tried them. These little seeds are packed with Omega-3's, calcium, and manganese. One ounce of chia seeds can provide a third of your daily recommended intake of fiber and is packed with protein. And as a bonus, chia seeds keep you feeling fuller for longer making this creamy Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding the perfect way to start your day, to get you through that afternoon snack attack until dinner, or even as pre-workout fuel. :)

And what are the chia seeds themselves like? I would compare them to being somewhat like strawberry seeds, but not as tough to chew and with a slightly nutty, crunchy pop. I love the texture and flavor of these little superfood powerhouses...