Gluten Free
Dairy Free
This is one of my favourite mid-week breakfasts. It's quick to throw together, easy to batch prep for a few mornings and includes some sneaky non-detectable vegetables.
This blended chia pudding recipe is not only delicious but it's a great way to support your gut and hormone health. Here's why:
Chia seeds are an excellent source of fibre and when they come into contact with liquid, they swell creating a gel like substance that soothes the gastrointestinal tract and helps to provide physical bulk to stool. In fact one serve of this chia pudding provides almost 25 grams of fibre which comfortably meets the minimum recommended daily requirement for fibre!
You can throw in any vegetable you want when making this, however I usually use frozen broccoli/cauliflower. As members of the cruciferous vegetable family they are rich in a plant compound called indole-3-carbinol which helps to support oestrogen detoxification in the liver - balancing reproductive hormones. (If you have/suspect you have an under active thyroid/ hypothyroidism, it's best to cook cruciferous veg before eating).
A regular chia pudding (usually 3 tbsp chia seeds) standing alone usually doesn't contain enough protein to consider it a balanced meal. However adding a serve of protein/collagen powder bumps it up to the 25-35 grams (of protein) mark. Depending on your energy requirements and exercise load, hitting at least this amount of protein at breakfast will set you up for a very good day. Protein is an essential building block for making reproductive hormones (oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone) which regulate the female menstrual cycle, support healthy mood regulation and are essential for pre-conception care.
Ingredients
(makes 2 serves)
2/3 cup almond milk
2/3 cup water
6 tbsp chia seeds
2 handfuls frozen cauliflower/broccoli/zucchini/spinach
1 tbsp cacao powder
1 tsp honey
2 serves of protein/collagen powder
To serve: berries and chocolate buckwheat granola
Method
Add all ingredients to a high speed blender. Blend for a while, until smooth and creamy. Distribute into 2 bowls. You can eat immediately however leaving it in the fridge for an hour + will leave you with a pudding like consistency. I usually make this full batch and leave one serve in the fridge to eat the next morning. Top with berries and granola when you are ready to eat.
Enjoy!
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