I love chia seed pudding but when the weather turns colder it is nice to have something warm to start off the day. If you are looking for a grain free breakfast then this porridge is a great easy option.
Chia seeds are best soaked and retain up to 8 times their normal weight in water. This means they are super hydrating for the body and packed full of omega 3 essential fatty acids which are anti inflammatory. They are great for any dry, flaky inflammatory skin conditions and help re hydrate the body so therefore the skin. What could be better than that! An instant morning pick me up.
The humble pear is often overlooked but they contain high levels of antioxidants and are a great source of vitamin c, copper and vitamin K. They also contain pectin which is a soluble fibre that binds to cholesterol and helps eliminate toxins from the body. Always leave the skin on your pears as the skin contains surprisingly high levels of phytonutrients including anti-cancer polyphenols, anti-aging flavanoids and the super antioxidant glutathione which can help prevent against cancer, stroke and high blood pressure.
Feijoas are unique to NZ, Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina. Feijoas are part of the guava family, the skin is green and the fleshy pulp has a distinct tangy and aromatic taste which is also slightly sweet. If don’t live somewhere that feijoas grow and haven’t tried one, you truly are missing out. Get on over here! Feijoas grow in abundance in autumn in NZ and if you are lucky enough to have friends with feijoa trees (like we are) then generally a bagful or two will be dropped off on your doorstep. Feijoas are an excellent source of vitamin C, 100g of fresh fruit provides about 32.9mg of vitamin c which is 55 percent of the RDI. Feijoa contains small amounts of B-complex vitamins such as vitamin B3, B5 and B6, vitamin E and K, as well as minerals like calcium, magnesium, copper, and manganese.
I have added chopped almonds on top give a bit of crunch and a extra bit of protein to help stabilise blood sugar to start the day. In addition the fruit and almonds are sauteed in cinnamon, cinnamon is superb at stabilising blood sugar. For those that may not think this is important, I can’t tell you enough how many woman I used to see in clinic who experienced blood sugar imbalances which contributed to hormone problems, mood swings, fatigue, acne and so on. Starting the day off with a balanced breakfast is a must – yes we have all heard it before but it really is true for so many reasons. Give those hormones a helping hand ladies! And for those busy mums that feel like you are going to drop by the time the afternoon rolls around, a breakfast with healthy protein and fats is a must.
To make this breakfast, it is best to start the night before by soaking the chia seeds so that you can get the most of the nutrients from these nutrient dense seeds. The great thing is this process takes about 1 minute, then leave them overnight in the fridge and then wham you only have a couple of minutes of cooking to do in the morning. Easy peasy!
Serves 2 A warm and nourishing porridge with chia, cinnamon pears and feijoas. 10 minPrep Time 5 minCook Time 15 minTotal Time Ingredients Instructions Notes Replace coconut milk and or almond milk with any of your favorite nut milk.
Hope Pearce
No Comments