Berry Chia Pudding

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Berry Chia Pudding

 

Let’s talk about chia. They’re seeds, kinda slimy and you once slathered them on a terra cotta little statue of a cat or Bart Simpson to make a chia pet. I get it. They’re weird.

They are also really good for you. Healthy omega-3 fats, fiber, calcium, protein, manganese, all sorts of things to make you feel super virtuous. I have been adding chia seeds to my oatmeal for a few years now and inspired by this chia parfait that looked great, I decided to see what else I could do with these little guys.

Chia Pudding: 2 cups cashew milk*, 1/2 cup chia seeds, 2 tablespoon unsweetened coconut shreds, 1 tablespoon maple syrup. Combine in bowl and stir vigorously. Cover and store in refrigerator for an hour.

Berry Topping: 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup frozen blueberries, 1 banana, 1/2 cup cashew milk*. Combine in a blender (I don’t have one so I used a bowl and a submersion blender).

*almond milk would work well too.

Chia Pudding

Chia Berry Pudding

The finished product: delicious and creamy, not at all reminiscent of a chia pet. With how easy it was to pull together, it would make a great staple to have on hand for when a healthy snack is needed mid-day. Easy, healthy and delicious: nothing could sum up my mid-week food needs more.

 

Brown Bag Seafood

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Lakeshore East is one of my favorite neighborhoods. Yes, I am biased because we lived there for 2 years but this little hidden gem on Lake Michigan and steps away from Michigan Ave is just the best…and now it has Brown Bag Seafood.

I was starvation city last night after Flywheel but wanted something fresh, healthy, that wasn’t a sit down restaurant but also wasn’t Whole Foods. Brown Bag Seafood fit the bill and then some. I grabbed one of their “brown bags” (piece of paper with all the food options), marked down what kind of fish I wanted and how I wanted it prepared (tacos, salad, sandwich, plain, etc) and obviously checked the box for a glass of wine and a few minutes later…dinner.

After much debate (and the help of the sweet man taking my order), I went for the Power Pack: white fish on top of a red quinoa & wild rice blend atop spinach with lemon and herbs. But with 4 different types of tots, I will be back soon to try those and the fish tacos. And probably a sandwich. Such a fun find, this urban fish shack!

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Plant Strong for 28 Days

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Whole Foods Market has reached out to some local bloggers to take part in a 28 Day Plant Strong Challenge and yours truly is now officially on board.  Starting tomorrow, I will aiding in Whole Food’s goal of encouraging a healthier lifestyle through healthy eating education and support by blogging about what I’m eating, new recipes I’ve found and loved (or hated) as well as any results of changes in my health I am seeing.

In simple terms?  I am going to be loving on a ton of veggies.

The challenge is based on Rip Esselstyn‘s Engine2 diet and focused on 4 main pillars: whole foods, healthy fats, plant strong eating and nutrient density.  I was actually a vegetarian for a number of years so I know the drill but I am really looking forward to going through this challenge with the support of meetups, recipe exchanges and a legit tool to use.  Healthy eating amped up a bit, I figure.

Despite teaming with Whole Foods, all opinions expressed will be 100% mine.

Stay tuned!