Dark Chocolate Sun Butter Chia Pudding

Dark Chocolate Sun Butter Chia Pudding is a sweet, nutty & creamy breakfast or snack.  Packed with protein, fiber & healthy fats to keep you full!

I don’t know what my recent obsession with chia seeds has been but all of a sudden I’ve been adding them everywhere.  Ever since I wrote about the health benefits of chia I started wanting them in everything, funny how that works.  Anyway, this little pudding is super simple to make and taste really good, as long as you don’t mind frog egg consistency.  That’s what Paul calls it anyway, I kind of equate it to the consistency of rice pudding or tapioca (which I actually do not care for at all.)  The addition of sun butter (or any other nut butter you want) makes this version a bit more creamy and adds a sweet but nutty taste. I’m still amazed at  it is how those little seeds suck up water and create a gel up that thickens any liquid (“known as chia gel”).   That gel is full of electrolytes great for replenishing hydration. A spoonful of this pudding for dessert is how I’ve been enjoying it, but it’d be great for an on the go breakfast topped with fruit too!

Ingredients:

• 1.25 cups of unsweetened almond milk
• ¼ cup chia seeds
• 1T Sun Butter
• 2T unsweetened dark cocoa powder
• 1T honey or maple syrup
• 4 drops stevia
• 1 scoop collagen (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender bottle or small bowl.  If you have a blender bottle shake the bottle to combine all ingredients or whisk all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Let sit in the refrigerator overnight.  The chia seeds will create a gel turning it into a pudding like consistency.
3. Serve chilled and top with fruit, nuts, more honey, whip cream, more sun butter you get the idea…

Makes 1 large serving or two smaller servings

Looking for a higher protein breakfast option?  Try out my chocolate or vanilla protein pudding options which add some protein powder for extra staying power!

Here is your funny story for the day, after I took some photos of this pudding I looked over to find Missy licking the bowl.  Dangit!  I love her, but I won’t eat after a cat under any circumstances.  So I made a Vanilla version of this Sun Butter Pudding which was lightly sweet and very refreshing.  I didn’t get a chance to take a decent picture but here is what when in it…

• 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1T honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 4 drops stevia

I’m torn between which version I like better.  Both have the subtle hint of the nutty and sweet sun butter, but they totally differ in what they satisfy.  The chocolate version satisfies my absolute need to have chocolate after dinner, the vanilla version is a nice little treat when I get home before I make dinner.  Either way both versions an awesome tasting healthy treat.

Yesterday’s Eats: See What An RD Eats 🙂

Sorry I didn’t have time to recap Monday’s eats, but I’m back with Tuesdays!

So yesterday I talked myself into buying coffee out because I had a coupon and because I was going to be out all day instead of in the office.  For some reason I always feel weird bringing my own glass coffee cup out and about. Since I had eggs planned for dinner I skipped the egg sandwich I normally order and had a honey whole wheat bagel with honey almond schemer. I love Einsteins honey whole wheat bagel, they are only 240 calories and provide 14 grams of protein, slightly under my 15g of protein at breakfast rule, but the cream cheese probably provides that extra gram.  It was just sweet enough to be a sweet treat for breakfast but surprising this bagel also held me over for so so so long, I wasn’t even that hungry for lunch.

I was excited for lunch though because I brought a Jalapeño & Cheddar Turkey Burger (recipe coming soon) on top of salad with homemade salsa dressing. By homemade I mean 1/4 cup salsa plus 1T greek yogurt and a dash of salsa picante.

I ate a banana and some carrots on the way home in the car.  I know car eating is bad but my commute is long so I’ve been snacking on carrots so I don’t dive into a jar of Sun Butter when I get home (I think its apparent that is my all time favorite food).   I stayed at work way later than usual so at this point I was just grabbing for snacks, didn’t really think about taking a picture!

For dinner  I had omelets planned but I was craving another egg sandwich.  I microwaved some previously microwaved/steamed veggies for a side. To satisfy my egg sandwich craving I toasted an english muffin and topped it with ketchup, reduced fat miracle whip, 2 fried eggs and a sprinkle of cheddar.  Delicious!

Post dinner snacks included the previously mentioned sun butter chia pudding and maple almond quinoa granola.

Hope you have a great day!

Question of the day: What matters more to you consistency or taste, or both?

Taste!  Consistency (like that of the Sun Butter Chia Pudding) never bothered me much at all, I can pretty much eat anything (except sashimi).

Photos updated 7/26/16