chia seeds • Sprinkles & Allergies

I’ve been adding more protein and healthy fat sources to my diet lately and decided to switch things up with the usual cinnamon, brown rice based pancakes I make on the weekends. Chia seeds are a fantastic source of protein, omega 3′s, and heart healthy fats that pack a nutritional punch. I added about a teaspoon to each pancake I made, sprinkling them over the top of the uncooked batter as the other side sizzled away on the skillet. Yes, I am talking about the seeds you used to grow your beloved Chia Pet back in the 90′s. Who knew? They’re surprisingly tasty with a sweet, nutty flavor. Read more about the health benefits of Raw Chia Seeds here.

Raw Cacao powder added another depth of flavor to the cakes and the slight crunchiness of the Chia seeds offered a nice contrast. (I use Navitas Naturals Raw Chia Seeds and Raw Cacao Powder). I followed the basic pancake recipe on the back of the Namaste Gluten Free Pancakes mix before adding my variations. I also used coconut milk instead of the water that was called for. This makes for a thicker, fluffier pancake in my opinion. I top mine with a smear of Olivio Coconut Spread (soy free, dairy free, gluten free), and a drizzle of raw local Michigan honey.

If we had only known better before we started planting them on our President’s heads…like the Bill Clinton Chia Planter you could get back in the day. Or maybe the new Obama Chia Planter. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to link to such ridiculousness and hilarity…

Most of the time when I mention how good Chia seeds taste and how amazing they are for you, people give me strange looks and say they’d never think of eating them after the Chia pet craze. I for one will stick to eating them in their raw, tasty natural form, while not thinking about how cute that furry Chia Pet baby pig figurine looked when I was five years old. Start eating your Chia instead of planting it on Presidents and tiny animal figurines please. Let’s leave the 90′s in the 90′s. And if you’re not going to do it for nutrition, at least do it for Obama’s sake.

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Do your healing body some good and incorporate some super powerful anti-oxidant and nutrient heavy foods into your food allergy or intolerant diet! There is no real concrete definition when it comes to naming superfoods, but here I list my favorites and the ones I find to be most beneficial. (This is not a medical statement or advice). I don’t list pomegranate below because I seem to react negatively to it, but please note if you’re not sensitive to it, it’s excellent for you!

Dark Chocolate (or Cocoa powder) –chock full of flavonols and anti-oxidents, but make sure if you eat it to buy at least 60% cocoa dark chocolate. The higher the percentage of cocoa the better! Do eat in moderation (if possible) though. I absolutely love Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate bars, and probably eat them more than I should… =)

Chia Seeds –I love Navitas Chia Seeds. Who knew your chia pet was delicious? I’ve listed a great recipe from Mimi Kirk and links below to Chia seed inforamtion.

Blueberries –Full of polyphenols which help to prevent excessive weight gain, cancers, and brain damage to name a few of the many benefits. Many cancer patients have incorporated blueberries into their diets. Best to buy organic whenever possible.

Oats – Gluten free and Certified that is! My favorite brand at the moment is Udi’s Gluten free Vanilla Oats. Add these to plain coconut yogurt with cinnamon and your favorite berries. You have a powerful breakfast or snack to get you going. Probiotics, fiber, anti-oxidants, and a great B vitamin source.

Flaxseeds — Great for gluten free diets. Read about the power of Flax here: http://www.navitasnaturals.com/products/flax.html

Avocado –Good source of monounsaturated fats (HDL- high density lipoproteins: good fats!) which help to stabilize cholesterol levels and even lower bad cholesterol (LDL -low density lipoproteins).

Red Wine –A glass of red wine a day is said to be very beneficial for your heart, among other things. It helps to boost good cholesterol and has a high anti-oxidant content.

Kale –We were lucky enough to have these given to us by my boyfriends mother all summer from her organic garden. Thanks Mrs. Charniauski! Great cancer fighting and prevention properties with high anti-oxidants. Read more on the health benefits of Kale here: http://alternativemedicinenow.com/the-health-benefits-of-kale/ We are juicing this stuff a lot these days.

Almonds– Make your own almond milk or eat them raw after soaking them to increase your body’s absorption. Great source of good monounsaturated fats.

Garlic –A natural antibiotic and great for cancer prevention. It also holds anti-parasitic properties. Try a few cloves of garlic in your tea or raw combined with a few raw cloves to fight off toxins and parasites chilling out in your system. You may feel some die off symptoms at first (worse before you feel better), but you’ll feel way better after the cleanse. I did a small 3 day cleanse and felt amazing afterwards!

Apple Cider Vinegar –Also good for cleansing your system and detoxifying. I’m currently looking for a different brand than Bragg’s (Beware! Has soy cross contamination in manufacturing process. From personal experience). I’ll post a good brand as soon as I find one without c.c. About a tablespoon a day added to your water is great from time to time and especially when you’re feeling under the weather.

Salmon –In moderation! Fish and seafood can contain mercury, so don’t load up too much. Great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, but be sure to buy wild pacific salmon–Not farmed salmon!

Green Tea — Powerful anti-oxidants. Read more about green tea here: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea

Coconut Oil –I not only add this to my recipes, but put it on my skin too! It really makes your skin glow. Coconut Oil contains MFCA’s. These are good fat chains that are easily converted into usable energy in your body instead of stored as fats (like animal fats). Incorporate coconut milk, yogurt, butter and oil into your diet and you’ll be feeling healthy and full of energy!

Check out this great video from Mimi Kirk (voted sexiest vegetarian over 50, and she’s 72!)

This video features her Chia Porridge recipe.