If you haven’t been living under a rock, then you’re familiar with the awesome ‘chia pudding’ that’s perfect for meal prepping.
I first found out about it years ago, when one of my college roommates made it for breakfast one day.
First I wasn’t sure what to make of it, since it was something I’d never seen before, but before I knew it I was making it myself and then there was no turning back!
Once you get your chia ratio down, you’re pretty much good to go as far as chia pudding recipes go.
How to make chia seed pudding
The chia seed ratio is very important if you want to get a good pudding consistency.
That means, I add two tablespoons for every half cup of milk (I like to use almond milk since dairy makes me break out). OR four tablespoons for every cup of milk.
Then I also like to add a tablespoon of agave nectar. And depending on how tart or sweet the fruit I’ll mix in is, I’ll add another spoonful of agave nectar if needed.
If you don’t like the consistency of the 4:1 chia to milk ratio, change it up and add a little extra chia for a thicker pudding, or more milk for a more watery one.
Chia seed pudding makes an AMAZING light breakfast (or a heavy breakfast if you want to make a lot of it to munch on).
So in a few words:
- Combine 2 tablespoons of chia to 1/2 a cup of almond milk
- Add your agave nectar/ honey and any extra flavoring add ons like cinnamon or vanilla extract
- Let sit for a few hours or overnight, stir, and then add all your fruit toppings and you’re done!
To get the look in the pictures, you first want to muddle about 5 raspberries at the bottom of a clean glass or jar, add a few spoonfuls of chia pudding, add your first layer of mango and berries, and then add add your second and final layer of chia pudding. Then you can top with the rest of the fruit, including your pomegranate seeds.
Easy right?
One of the reasons why I love making chia pudding so much is that its super healthy. It has more nutritional value than I know what to do with.
Chia seed nutritional facts
Chia seeds as filled with omega-3 fatty acids, lots of Calcium, Protein, Fiber, and even Zinc.
According to Harvard Nutrition Source, “Two tablespoons of chia seeds (1 ounce or 28 grams) contain about 140 calories, 4 grams of protein, 11 grams of fiber, 7 grams of unsaturated fat, 18% RDA for calcium, and trace minerals including zinc and copper. They are the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids. Chia seeds are a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids that cannot be made by the body.”
Crazy, right?!
Chia pudding pro tips
You can stick to simple chia pudding or you can jazz it up a bit. Here’s how!
Vary the toppings! (there are TONS of them you can play with)
Besides all kinds of fresh fruit you can mix in, you can always have fun with a few extra toppings you might not have thought of before. Here’s a quick and dirty list of some of the best toppings for your chia pudding.
Toasted nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts, etc)
Coconut shavings
Dried plums
Cherries
Hazelnuts
Figs
Drief fruit mix
Oats
Graham cracker crumbs
Chocolate chips
Add plenty of flavor with these
Now, you can eat chia pudding plain without a problem, especially if you aren’t a big fan of sugar. Chia seeds tend to have a nutty taste, so if that’s as far as you want to take it when you’re making your own pudding then more power to ya.
BUT there ARE a lots of different toppings and flavorful ingredients you can add for a chia pudding that’s a bit more on the fun side.
Strawberry jam
Protein powder
Peanut butter
Almond butter
Cinnamon powder
Cocoa powder
Matcha powder
Chai spices
Turmeric
Ginger
Green tea
Chocolate syrup
Coconut milk
Greek yogurt
The best jars for meal prepping chia pudding
Now, I personally LOVE the look of a chia snack topped with fruit toppings in a mason jar. It almost looks too pretty to eat! When you make chia pudding to go-
Use Weck Jars
These weck jars are awesome and they’re no spill reusable containers that work great for homemade snacks like chia pudding. They’re a bit pricier than mason jars but once you get them they can last you a long way.
Use 8 or 12 oz. Mason Jars
I LOVE using 8-12 oz. mason jars because they’re pretty practical and affordable. Not to mention I can use them for just about anything. You can buy them in bulk packs or buy them in smaller bundles. It all depends on how much mason jar meal prep you plan on making.
More chia pudding recipes
Obviously, this isn’t the only chia seed pudding recipe out there. There are so many more to draw inspiration and ideas for.
These are only a few of my personal favorites.
Chia Seed Birthday Cake Parfait
Overnight Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
Chia Seed Pudding With Mango Berries And Pomegranate
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Chia seeds
- 1/2 Cup Almond milk (whole milk or cashew milk also works!)
- 1-2 Tsp Agave nectar (or plain honey)
- 1/2 Small pomegranate
- 3 Slices of mango
- 1 Handful of raspberries and blackberries to your liking
- 1 Tsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a small mason jar and leave in the fridge either for a few hours or overnight (overnight gives you a thicker, more jellified effect)
- Then stir your chia pudding and add your fruit
- Either pack it to go or eat immediately
- Enjoy!
Notes
More snack ideas
23 Healthy Snack Ideas For Work