Part of the reason why I started waking up earlier on weekday mornings (at 5 a.m. instead of 6 a.m.) is because I found myself running out of time to accomplish everything I want to in one day. Naturally, part of that morning routine involves making and eating breakfast, and I’ve kept it relatively simple the past few years. Peanut butter (or lately, almond butter) toast with a sprinkle of chocolate chips and coffee has been one of my main go-tos, but I’ve recently gotten more into making chia seed pudding.
Chia Seed Pudding v. Overnight Oats
I love overnight oats; I used to make them all the time. They’re easy, can be made ahead of time the night before, and are entirely self-contained (check out MUSH Overnight Oats from Costco if you haven’t already). But with a few recent health changes and adopting a modified Elimination Diet, I’ve made the shift to chia seed pudding — it has the same basic prep work but has a slightly different texture in the final product. The ratio between oats or chia seeds and milk doesn’t really matter — and it may take a few tries to get the consistency you’re looking for — but it’s still an easy breakfast either way.
How to Make My Chia Seed Pudding
- In a small glass mason jar (however large you’d like one serving to be), pour three tablespoons of chia seeds.
- Mix in any add-ins you’d like to give the pudding more texture of favor; I use chopped hazelnuts and chocolate chips personally, but you can try spices, fruit, or other nuts.
- Pour in enough milk (again, low-sugar almond or oat milk for me) to cover the contents, keeping in mind how much pudding you’re aiming for; the amount of pudding depends on how much milk you’re adding.
- Twist on the jar lid, give it a good shake, and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator.
Quick, Simple, All-in-One Breakfast
When you pop open the top in the morning, you can either stir it around with a spoon or keep the lid on and give it another good shake. The texture, depending on how much milk you put in it, is similar to actual pudding but is a little ticker. I’ll admit I wasn’t a fan of the texture the first time I tried it, but the add-ins help add flavor and make it more like pudding. Chia seeds on their own taste virtually like nothing. Try it out and let me know what you think!
