The word “pudding” normally brings up the image of sweet and heavily processed treats that have zero health benefits. Superfood chia pudding is, however, an interesting exception to that pattern as it has a much lower sugar content and carries multiple advantages for both the body and the skin.
What’s even better is that the chia pudding allows you to play around with flavor by, for example, adding other powerful ingredients like berries, matcha powder, or even spirulina. So, if you’re looking for delicious recipes to make this super-nutritious pudding, you’ve landed the right spot — keep scrolling!
Is Chia Pudding Healthy For You?
Superfood chia pudding offers numerous incredible health benefits, which makes it a popular treat, snack, or even breakfast choice!
Boosts Digestive Health
With every chia pudding serving, your body gets 9.75 g of fiber. Hitting our fiber targets is important for many reasons, including balancing cholesterol levels, lowering the risk of constipation, and minimizing blood sugar spikes.
Improves Weight Management
Chia seeds contain high amounts of fiber and protein (4.69 g per 1 ounce) — both being vital nutrients in dropping pounds as they increase your satiety levels, suppress your appetite, and keep you full.
However, the full effect on your weight varies on how you prepare the pudding. For example, ingredients like cream, full-fat milk, or nuts increase the calorie content, disrupting your weight loss plans.
Improves Heart Health
Chia seeds are rich in ALAs, which are known to reduce blood pressure, resulting in improved heart health.
Promotes Better Skin
Chia pudding, being a fantastic source of Omega 3 acids, helps delay the aging process, reduces acne and blemishes, and makes sure your skin is glowing through!
Other advantages include:
- A plant-based source of protein
- Reduces inflammation
- Packed with amazing nutrients
- Aids detoxification
Best Chia Seeds For Chia Pudding
When shopping for chia seeds, you will find two different types: black and white. Although black chia seeds are more common than white chia seeds, there aren’t many major differences. The main thing that sets them apart are the protein and Omega-3 content. Black seeds have a higher protein content, while white seeds are more concentrated with Omega-3. The best choice really just depends on the nutrients you’re looking to load up on.
Pro Tip: Do not purchase brown chia seeds if you ever happen to find them. They lack true nutritional value.
Once you’ve picked the best seeds, it’s time to unfold the recipe to put together the delicious superfood chia pudding!
Ingredients
Below, we’ve listed the items you’ll need to make a berry superfood chia pudding with a high nutritional value — but that doesn’t restrict you from combining other ingredients to make a pudding according to your personal preference and taste!
- chia seeds
- almond milk
- frozen mixed berries
- maple syrup (or to your taste)
- acai powder
- Toppings as per your taste
How Do You Make Chia Seed Pudding?
Step 1: Add the almond milk, berries, and acai powder into a blender.
Step 2: Keep blending until you have a smooth mixture.
Step 3: Stop to add maple syrup to sweeten the mixture to your taste. Blend for a few more seconds.
Step 4: Pour the colored milk mixture into a bowl and whisk in the chia seeds.
Step 5: Cover and refrigerate the pudding for at least 8 hours or until it has thickened.
Tip: If your chia seeds don’t thicken and gel, it is likely that they’ve gone bad and dud due to sitting for too long or being stored without an air-tight jar.
Step 6: Once thickened, stir the mixture again to break up any lumps.
Step 7: Enhance the pudding flavor by topping it with your favorite ingredients.
Voila — the pudding is ready to be served and consumed as a nutritious meal for a healthy body and glowy skin!
What Do You Put On Almond Milk Chia Pudding?
Feel free to play around with delicious toppings to make the superfood chia pudding scrumptious and tasteful. Here are our favorite ideas to get you started:
- Fruit: Fresh fruits, including kiwis, berries, sliced grapes, oranges, bananas, and mangos.
- Coconut: Coconut flakes or shredded coconut are great fiber sources that also make a delicious topping when paired with dark chocolate chips or fruits. You can even use coconut cream instead of flakes or shredded pieces.
- Nuts: Nuts, such as peanuts, almonds, walnuts, etc., can add extra crunch.
- Seeds: Pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, and sunflower seeds can also be sprinkled.
Best Plant-based Milk & Other Ingredient Swaps
Apart from almond milk, you can use other plant-based picks, such as soy, oat, hemp, coconut, quinoa, pea, etc.
For the remaining recipe, you can swap the berries for options like:
- Pineapple
- Peanut butter
- Walnut
- Orange creamsicle
- Apple cinnamon
- Pomegranate
- Lemon
- Coffe & Chocolate
- Pumpkin
Remember, the key is to combine and create a pudding that will bring amazing benefits to your skin and body while giving your taste buds a treat!
FAQs
Now that you’re familiar with the best recipe for the superfood chia pudding, the benefits it offers, and the different ingredients you can use as alternatives, let’s answer any remaining ambiguities to perfect your next chia pudding breakfast.
What are the make-ahead tips when it comes to chia pudding meal prep?
Superfood chia pudding is a great choice for a healthy breakfast, and what makes it even better is that you can make a large batch, freeze it, and thaw it whenever needed!
All you have to do is follow the above mentioned steps, pour the pudding into small containers (rather than large ones to avoid too much air), and toss them into the freezer. Don’t forget to shift the container from the freezer into the fridge one night before you will consume it. If it still doesn’t thaw completely, leave it on the counter for 5-10 minutes, stir, and enjoy! Some other helpful tips include:
- Any plant-based milk will work.
- Toppings like fruits (frozen or fresh), nut butter, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.), and dried fruits can be added while prepping.
- Toppings like seeds and nuts will go soggy, so it’s better to add them when consuming the pudding.
- The pudding will last for up to several weeks in the freezer and for around 5 days in the fridge.
Yup, that’s how easy it is to prepare the superfood chia pudding overnight!
So, what are you waiting for? Follow our recipes and tips to treat yourself to the healthiest and yummiest breakfast every day.
Super Berry Superfood Chia Pudding
Ingredients
Ingredients (purple acai layer only)
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/3 cup mixed frozen berries
- 2 tsp agave or maple syrup
- 2 tsp acai powder
Plain chia layer
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 2 tsp agave or maple syrup
Berry pure layer
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- 3 tsbp agave or maple syrup
Instructions
For acai layer
- Blend the milk, frozen berries, agave, and acai powder together, but DON'T add the chia seeds yet. Stop and sweeten to taste. Blend some more until it's smooth.
- Pour the colored milk mixture into a container and whisk in the chia seeds. Cover and chill until pudding has thickened. If possible, mix it again later to break up any clumps of chia. Place in the fridge to thicken for 1 hour.
For plain chia layer
- To create the plain chia layer simply mix chia seeds with almond milk and agave or maple syrup and set aside. Place in the fridge to thicken for 1 hour.
For berry pure layer
- Blend the frozen berries and agave or maple syrup, and set aside.
To create the layers
- To create the layers, start with the berry pure, followed by plain chia pudding, then acai layer. Repeat this process until you have filled your glass or container.
- Top with fresh fruit, berries or nuts.
- Store chia pudding refrogerated in airtight containers for up to 5 days without the toppings. If stored with fruits or toppings consume the same or the next day.
