I’ve always liked the idea of chia bowls but until this past year I didn’t believe they could be filling enough to carry me through the start of my day. The first few I made weren’t the most flavourful, and just being made up of chia, nut milk, fruit and a few nuts, they had me reaching for second breakfast an hour later.
Now, there is nothing wrong with having a second breakfast when you’re hungry and you need it, but it’s nice to have a brekkie that’s satisfying enough to carry you through a good chunk of your morning. Chia pudding has the potential to do that beautifully, it just needs to be taken to the next level, in my opinion.
And that next level involves oodles of fresh fruit, nuts, seeds and other nutritious goodies that create a breakfast rich in a balance of protein, carbs and fats as well as a variety of vitamins and minerals. Best of all, this chia bowl can be customized with whatever ingredients you have on hand. Don’t have walnuts, try almonds. Don’t have berries, try another fruit. Don’t have cacao nibs… okay you can just leave them out but breakfast is a little more fun with chocolate so I highly recommend them.
I’ve also included a couple of my favourite “superfoods” in my chia breakfast bowl. Maca powder is great for balancing hormones, which is something I’m working on right now, as well as being thought to improve endurance… so you’ll be extra powered-up! And the bee pollen is a great source of protein and antioxidants. Plus they both offer interesting flavours that really compliment this already-delicious bowl. But you can certainly go without them if you don’t have them on hand!
I’ve been having this chia bowl for breakfast almost every day for the last couple months and it has been providing me with so much nourishment and energy — I can’t wait for you to try it!
Take your chia pudding to the next level! This powered-up chia bowl is bursting with nutritious ingredients that will fill you up while also satisfying your taste buds.
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/3 cup almond milk or other dairy-free milk
- 1-2 tsp maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup canned coconut milk or coconut cream
- 3/4 cup fresh or frozen berries (or sub other chopped fruit)
- 1/2 banana, sliced or cubed
- 2 tbsp chopped walnuts
- 1/2 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds
- 1 tbsp cacao nibs
- 1 tsp bee pollen (optional)
- 1/2 tsp maca powder (optional)
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Combine chia seeds, almond milk, maple syrup, cinnamon and maca, if using, in a bowl. Let sit for 15-20 minutes.
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Top chia pudding with coconut milk and then all remaining ingredients. Stir to combine or enjoy as is.
Photos courtesy of Amanda Caristo