Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

Remember Chia Pets? Introduced in 1982 with the Chia ram and still going strong today with figures like Mickey Mouse and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

Who knew that those sticky little seeds were such nutrition powerhouses?

A 2 tbsp serving of chia seeds contains:

• 137 Calories
• Carbohydrates: 12 g.
  • But 11 g. are of fiber, which isn't digested and doesn't raise the blood sugar, so really, it's only 1 g. of carbs that count if you are watching your carbs.
• Protein: 4 grams.
• Fat: 9 grams (5 of which are Omega-3s).
• Calcium: 18% of the RDA.
• Manganese: 30% of the RDA.
• Magnesium: 30% of the RDA.
• Phosphorus: 27% of the RDA.
• They also contain a decent amount of Zinc, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Potassium, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) and Vitamin B2.
• High in antioxidants.
• Can improve exercise performance as much as a sports drink.

Chia seeds are also a whole grain, meaning you could use them as your whole grains for the day without resorting to pasta or bread. They are also gluten-free and non-GMO.

Now, studies have shown that chia seeds, contrary to what some fad sites might say, won't help you lose weight, but they are a great way to get a ton of nutrients into your diet that might be otherwise brought in through higher-calorie methods (like bread and pasta for the daily grain requirement).

(Source of above info: Nutrition Authority)

Interested in giving them a try? Most stores stock them now, so shop around. They might seem pricey (a small bad for $5-10), but you only need a tablespoon, twice a day, so the bag lasts a while.

A few more things about chia seeds...

When they get wet, they create a gel-like pillow around themselves. This can create a weird texture, but since chia seeds are pretty much tasteless, it's easy to get used to. The cool thing about this superpower is that you can use chia seeds to make easy, tapioca-like puddings, and you can toss them in a drink (I put them in my protein drinks) and they don't all sink to the bottom (well, they initially sink, but once they get their coats, you can shake up your drink and they'll stay suspended in it).

If the gel-coat scares you, you can just toss the seeds on a salad, eat them whole and raw, blend into smoothies, add to flour when baking, turn them into crackers, mix in with beans, and add to pretty much any liquid-type topping (salad dressing, BBQ sauce, jelly, etc.)

A food that is super-healthy and super-easy to incorporate into your diet? Why AREN'T you eating them yet?!

Have you tried Chia seeds? If so, what's your favorite way to use them?