Boost your workouts with Chia!

Want to boost your workout or know someone else in your life who is on a path to get fit? Would you or someone you know love the gift of  Chia Seeds or Ruth’s Hemp Protein? Tell us what they are doing to nourish themselves!

Fueling up on super nutrients is a great way to get your body in shape and take your fitness to the next level! It is also important to incorporate superfoods into your diet that energize and nourish your body all year round. Chia seeds are some of those amazing little powerhouses that do just that! I love putting them in my Chocolate Super Smoothie! They thicken it up, add fiber and give it the dose of essential fats required for the day!

I know in this video you don’t see me add the chia seeds, but they are there! Just add 1 tbsp with the goji berries. Also you can substitute the Sun Warrior protein for Ruth’s Hemp Protein.

 

To get a kickstart and learn how to make this and other superfood recipes, join me for Fit and Fabulous on April 2nd !

Also, if you want to get a head-start on your workouts get yourself a copy of my ebook Purely Fit!

 

Please share with us how Chia can boost your workouts and you can WIN an incredible gift basket filled with Ruth’s Chia Goodies.

Share this on Twitter : “This is how I boost my workouts with #chia …. join the fun on @marniwasserman (and link to this post)”

Share on Facebook : How do you boost your workouts with Chia!

You can get more delicious knowledge by checking out Marni’s Purely Fit e-book, available here: http://www.marniwasserman.com/ebooks/

 

Chewy Chia Goodness Giveaway!

 

Chia seeds get some good attention on my blog. As they have very quickly become one of my new favourite ingredients to use on a daily basis. I am always discovering different ways to use them and my new favourite way to to make it into cereal.

It can be added to a cereal for a boost of fiber, protein, and healthy fat as I highlighted here.

Or it can be made into a bowl of cereal on it’s own. Thanks to Ruth’s Hemp Foods, she has made this rather easy by creating an amazing product called “Chia Goodness” which is of heart-healthy chia seeds loaded with various different flavour combinations to make each one individually unique!

Ruth’s Chia Goodness Flavours are:

Ginger cranberry
Chocolate
Original
Apple Cinnamon

They are all so delicious. Just add some water or almond milk and watch it expand. It really is like a chia pet! It grows until it is almost double the amount and you have a bowl of chewy chia cereal. That will will provide you with fiber, healthy fat an abundance of energy!

Even though they are all tasty, I am a fan of the original as I still like to make each bowl different and make it my own. I love adding in fresh blueberries, strawberries, coconut nectar or sometimes I will even add in cacao, goji berries, almonds, banana. Whatever I’m feeling that day is what I will add in!

My typical Chia Goodness breakfast:

2-3 tbsp original Chia Goodness
1/4-1/2 cup almond milk or hemp milk – blended with 1 tbsp Sun Warrior + 1 piece of banana
1/4 cup fresh fruit, blueberries, strawberries (from my garden)
1 tbsp coconut nectar
1/4 tsp cinnamon

If you are just dying to try your own version or sample one of Ruth’s delicious flavours of Chia Goodness…now is your chance!!

Chia Goodness Giveway!
Contest Rules: You must live in Toronto and must be able to come and claim your prize from me directly!

If that is all clear, then….

1. Comment below and tell me why you love chia seeds or want to try Chia Goodness
2. Share this post on Facebook – and must be a fan of both Delicious Knowledge and Ruth’s Hemp Foods
3. Share this post on Twitter – and be sure that you are following me!

To find out more about Chia seeds and where and how to use them…read about why I just love this super seed that keeps on giving!

Learn how to use Chia Seeds:

 

The super seed that keeps on giving!

That’s right I’m talking about ch ch ch CHIA! This super seed is power-packed full of nutrients and is most definitely on my top superfoods list. I even think it is a daily must! You will not regret making chia one of your new favourite items in your diet! It is loaded with heart healthy fiber, essential fats, protein and will give you long lasting energy. If I were you, I would start your day with some Chia!

Nutritional Benefits:

As mentioned it is a soure of amazing long term energy, which overtime can actually help your body to function at it’s best and burn more calories throughout the day! Chia is also contains a high source of Omega 3 fatty acids – similar to flax. But where they differ, is that Chia actually contains a healthy dose of omega 6 – which makes it more well rounded. Be sure to get dark grayish Chia as it is nutritionally superior to the lighter kind.

Another thing to be aware of, is that Chia becomes mucilaginous when soaked; so go ahead and make a pudding, jam or smoothie out of it! The soothing gel derived from Chia helps to lubricate dryness on the skin and reduces nervousness, treats insomnia and improves mental focus. Also if you find you are a little backed up – take a dose of Chia  and things will move along just fine. Chia is brilliant for relieving constipation!

How you use it:

Chia seeds can be added directly into a recipe, whether it is a soup, smoothie, salad or your morning porridge – it goes with anything. However if you want to soak it, place 2 tbsp or more in a bowl and cover with some water. Wait about 20 minutes, and it will double in size and you will have a thick gooey pudding. Delicious! You can also add the whole seeds or ground chia into baked goods, granola or trail mixes or use it as a condiment or garnish. I actually use Chia seeds to substitute an egg in my muffin and baked recipes.

FYI – 1 tbsp chia + 3 tbsp water or 1/4 cup applesauce – is equivalent to 1 egg.

Where to buy it:

You can get Chia seeds at most health food stores in your local area. There are many varieties and brands popping up all over the place. I am a big fan of Navitas Naturals Chia, they are clean, pure and fresh tasting!

They do come from South America, so if you happen to be traveling down there, be sure to get your hands on some, along with other favourites like quinoa and cacao!

How to Store it:

Chia seeds are best stored in a sealed glass jar. You can keep them in the cupboard or place them in the fridge – especially for long term storage. Ground Chia is best kept in the fridge or even the freezer. I love to just keep a small jar on my counter for everyday use, I add about 1 tbsp to my smoothie or cereal every morning!

 

Super Chia Breakfast

1/2 cup rolled oats, cooked or sprouted buckwheat

3/4 cup almond or hemp milk

1 tbsp Chia seeds

1 tbsp Goji berries

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1 tbsp Raw honey

Place rolled oats or cooked buckwheat into a pot.

Top with milk, chia, goji and cinnamon.

Bring to a low simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Stir in raw honey.

Enjoy!

For a  Raw Version- Place sprouted buckwheat or Raw Oats in your bowl and top with toppings! (oats can be soaked over night to make them creamy and soft.)

Top with fresh berries, banana slices, cacao or coconut flakes!

What goes in your cereal?

Super Powered Protein Pancakes

It’s not very often, but on a given weekend morning all I want to do is make pancakes. I nice hearty batch of pancakes that is filling enough to cover two meals – both breakfast and lunch.

I decided to come up with a fun batch this past weekend. I usually make a batch of pancakes that is very simple with just some whole grain flour (like spelt or oats) a banana, some rice milk and a few other things. They are yummy, but not as yummy as this batch.

This weekend I decided to take things a little outside of the Aunt Jamima pancake box (which I don’t think I have ever used in my life) and make some super powered protein pancakes.

Most people don’t think of pancakes as a source of protein. Well that all depends on what you put into it. I have been on this Sun Warrior kick lately (for over a year) since it is my favourite protein powder to use.  Along with some high fiber gluten free flours, these pancakes are good for at least a serving or two of your plant based protein for the day. I also added a whole bunch of super foods like mesquite, chia, coconut sugar and then topped them with fresh berries and a homemade cashew cream and date syrup. If this isn’t the perfect way enjoy a meal, then I don’t know what is. They were dense, hearty and had the most unique flavour. You should try them!

There are a whole bunch of ingredients in these pancakes, some of which may be new to you. If you can try to get a hold of some of them at your local health food store for a change.

Mesquite Power Pancakes

½ cup Teff Flour (gluten free, high in protein)

½ cup Buckwheat Flour (gluten free, full of fiber)

½ cup Rolled Oats

1 cup almond or rice milk with 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (makes vegan buttermilk)

1 tablespoon mesquite powder (gives pancakes a malty sweet taste(

1 tablespoon chia powder or ground flax (binds it all together – acts as one egg)

2 tablespoons Sun Warrior Protein (totally optional – but gives them a boost)

1 tablespoon coconut sugar (natural low glycemic sweetener) buy some here!

1 teaspoon cinnamon (balances blood sugar)

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

½ cup fresh blueberries (antioxidants)

1 tablespoon coconut oil (energy)

1 tablespoon date syrup or maple syrup (natural sweetness, and PURE fun!)

2 large tablespoon of cashew cream (cashews, almond butter, rice syrup and cinnamon all blended up!)

-       mix the dry ingredients

-       mix the wet ingredients

-       combine the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mix and let sit for 5 minutes

-       warm a hot skillet or pan with some coconut oil

-       drop batter onto pan by the ¼ cup full (or bigger) and allow to warm until bubbles come through or one side has browned, flip over (approx 2 minutes per pancake)