Chia Seeds are considered a ‘power food’ because they are rich in Omega 3 healthy fats, and important minerals, plus they have a lot of fibre which is great for helping to balance blood sugar and assist with detoxification.

So, you might be thinking, that’s great, but what the heck do I do with them?  Here are some quick and easy suggestions:

• Add 1 tablespoon to your oatmeal in the morning.
• Add one tablespoon to your applesauce or yogurt.
• Include them in your smoothies
• Add them to salads or soups

Chia seeds are interesting in that they can also be used as a thickening agent. They absorb liquid in recipes. Here is one of my favourite ways of boosting the nutritional value of recipes, and taking advantage of this characteristic.

Berry Delicious Chia Jam

What you need:

3 cups fresh berries of choice (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)

2-3 tbsp pure maple syrup, to taste (or other low GI liquid sweetener)

2 tbsp chia seeds

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

What you do:

1. In a medium-sized non-stick pot, bring the berries and 3 tbsp of maple syrup to a low boil. Stir frequently, and reduce heat to low-medium to simmer for about 5 minutes. Lightly mash the blueberries with a potato masher or fork, leaving some for texture.
2. Stir in the chia seeds until thoroughly combined and cook the mixture down until it thickens to your desired consistency, or about 15 minutes. Stir frequently so it doesn’t stick to the pot.
3. Once the jam is thick, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Add more maple syrup to taste if desired.

Makes approx. 1 cup.

The jam should keep for at least a week in an air-tight container in the fridge.

Enjoy!

xo