Learn Well, Eat Well: #ohsheglows

Effortless Overnight Oats

The main bulk of this lovely concoction are Chia seeds! Ch-ch-ch-chia!  What is all this commotion with chia seeds?  Well let me tell ya.  

"They are currently being used for their nutritional and medicinal properties, endurance for athletes, for suppressing the appetite, weight loss, levelling blood sugar, and for aiding intestinal regularity.  They readily dissolve into water, creating a substance that looks like gelatin.  This gel-forming action is due to the soluble fibre in the Chia seed.  Researchers believe that this same gel-forming phenomenon takes place in the stomach when Chia seed is consumed, thus creating a physical barrier between carbohydrates and digestive enzymes and slowing the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar.  Slowing the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar helps with endurance and metabolic rates, which is beneficial for athletes and others."  So neat! 

This pudding is able to thicken by the Chia seeds because they are hydrophilic (they love water!) and absorb more than 12 times its weight in the lovely H2O.  From this, the Chia seeds help retain moisture and prevent hydration especially during your workouts!

I love using them in my overnight puddings because it is super convenient and perfect for my 5:30am shifts if I want to catch some more zzz's.    

Other benefits from the little wonder seeds!

-essential fatty acids alpha linolenic and linoleic acid

-mucin

-strontium

-30% protein

-vitamin A

-vitamin B

-vitamin E

-vitamin D

-calcium, phosphorous, sulphur, iron, iodine, copper, zinc, sodium, magnesium, manganese, niacin, thiamine, silicon and antioxidants

Recipe from the Oh She Glows Cookbook by Angela Liddon

Makes 3 Servings

1 cup (250ml) rolled oats
1 1/2 cups (375ml) almond milk
1/4 cup (60ml) chia seeds
1 large banana, mashed
1/2 tsp (2ml) ground cinnamon

In a small bowl (or in my case a glass container to reduce the dishes), whisk together the oats, almond milk, chia seeds, banana and cinnamon,  Cover and refrigerate overnight!  Yes that easy!

The next morning stir up the thickened up concoction and serve in a jar a bowl etc.  For garnish, I layered the pudding with blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, greek yogurt, almond butter, hemp seed and a drizzle of honey and a dash more of cinnamon.  YUMMMMM

Reference: 10 Uses for Chia Seeds

Enjoy!