Chia Seeds

Today I received a package of chia seeds in the mail. If you haven't heard of these, they are a very cool seed that falls under the "super food" category. It is a member of the sage family (salvia hispanica). Originating as a staple from the ancient incan, Mayan, Aztec cultures, and the native American cultures of the southwest.

The mayan word for strength is Chia. They were often used as a food to maintain stamina for long treks because they are very nutrient rich and hydrating as they absorb up to twelve times their weight in water in less than 10 minutes. This apparently gives you surges of energy.

You can buy the black or white variety of chia seeds. I got the white and was eager to try out the "chia gel" that is created by mixing them with water. It is flavorless and definitely gel like. I can see why people use it to make puddings. There are a lot of recipes on the internet that utilize this superfood. If you are interested in calorie content, it is a great food for a person who is "dieting" because of it's known ability to keep you feeling full for a long time. One Tablespoon has 68 calories and after you add 1/4 cup water to that, it expands into a mini meal depending on how you use it. I actually enjoyed the texture of the food and am exited to experiment with different ways to use them. I'll let you know how it goes and I'll be sure to post a recipe soon.