Warm Hemp Chia Seed Pudding

Warm Hemp Chia Seed Pudding- all you need is 5 ingredients to make this satisfying grain-free breakfast that’s packed full of healthy omega 3s!

A few months before I fell pregnant I made some fairly drastic diet changes that I thought might help balance my hormones. I focused on eating plenty of healthy fats, cut out all gluten, most grains and sugar (except for berries and avocado pudding), soy, peanuts, and peas. As someone who eats a plant-based diet, that’s really freaking hard to do!

I realize that self inflicting all of those restrictions makes me sound a little crazy but I’m one of those people who prefers to try everything as far as diet and lifestyle changes before I resort to pharmaceuticals. Unless it’s a life threatening illness, of course. I promise I’m not totally off my rocker.

The diet changes made it almost impossible to eat out in Athens but (not) surprisingly there were plenty of choices when we took a trip to Los Angeles. Not only was I able to find things that suit my exhausting list of can’t haves, but I actually found options that I really enjoyed. One of those was a warm chia hemp bowl from a restaurant called Amara Kitchen. It was such a simple combination but I found it to be satisfying and delicious so naturally I had to recreate for you guys.

Warm Chia Hemp Seed Pudding Ingredients

Non-Dairy Milk- You can use any kind of plant milk to make this pudding but my favorite is coconut milk for a rich and creamy texture.

Chia Seeds- Packed full of nutrients, the chia seeds provide a hefty dose of fiber, protein, calcium and magnesium. They’re also a great source of plant-based omega 3s which can help reduce inflammation in the body.

Hemp Hearts- Hulled hemp hearts are another great plant-based source of healthy fats, protein, calcium and iron. They also happen to have a very mild, nutty flavor that easily pairs with whatever toppings you like.

Vanilla Extract- This gives the pudding a hint of vanilla without adding any sugar.

Pure Maple Syrup- You can forgo the syrup if you want to reduce the sugar but just a few teaspoons is enough to make it feel like a semi sweet breakfast bowl.

 

How to Make Warm Chia Hemp Seed Pudding

1. Bring the milk to a low boil.
2. Reduce to a simmer and stir in the chia and hemp seeds with the vanilla.
3. Allow to cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to thicken for a few more minutes.
4. Stir in maple syrup to taste, finish with desired toppings and enjoy!

Overall it makes for a super quick and easy breakfast that’s friendly for almost any kind of diet. Serving it warm is also ideal for this time of year and is a great alternative to oatmeal.

I like to top it with natural peanut butter (almond butter is also delicious) and cranberry chia jam or this sugar-free blueberry lemon compote. So good!