Gracious Living Raw, Vegan Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding

Chia Seeds, nature’s little powerhouse, are an amazing superfood providing calcium, alkalinizing, absorbable protein, and anti-aging antioxidants. (yes, this is where the famous chia pet came from!)  They are also high in omega-3 fatty acids much needed for optimal energy levels, heart health, brain health, and burning fat. Their high fibre content helps to stabilize blood sugar and suppress hunger.  Ch-ch-ch-chia!

Mmmmmm…a healthy, nutrient dense breakfast, snack, or dessert that will provide you with sustainable energy.  An excellent source of protein and essential fatty acids.

2 tbsp chia seeds
1 cup unsweetened almond, or cashew milk
1-2 Tbsp maple syrup
1⁄2 tsp real vanilla extract

1⁄4 ground cinnamon
1/4 ground nutmeg
1/4 ground ginger

**topping:  fresh fruit, and/or fresh coconut, and/or fresh mint.

**variation: instead of adding cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, add 1 tsp of raw, organic cocoa powder or carob powder for a chocolate chia pudding.

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and set aside for 15 minutes so the chia seeds can do their chia magic.  Abra-ca-dabra…..they will soak up the moisture and turn into a pudding consistency. Chill (if you can wait!) then serve.

Top with fresh berries of choice , and/or fresh mint leaves, and/or sprinkle fresh grated coconut on top.  I like to serve it in a martini glass!

click my face right below to watch my Gracious Living TV video on the health benefits of chia seeds!

upcoming Gracious Living Vegan Nutrition & Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas Jan 2013

www.gracevanberkum.com

GRACIOUS LIVING POPEYE SMOOTHIE

Are you eating dark green, leafy veggies EVERYDAY?  If not, you SHOULD!  They are great for the liver, high in calcium and magnesium, and highly nutritious.  Getting your dark green leafy greens in salads, soups, and stir fries are excellent, but another way to incorporate them in your daily eating is hidden in fresh fruit smoothies!  The fastest and most effective way to get the luscious nutrients we need from fruits and vegetables is to drink them.

Gracious Living Popeye Smoothie

handful of fresh spinach, kale, or swiss chard

1 banana

another fruit of choice (orange, mango, pineapple, berries)

1 stick celery

juice of 1 fresh lemon

fresh ginger to taste

1 tsp chia seeds

*optional:  natural sweetener to taste (I prefer a tad of maple syrup but depending on the fruit, you might not even need a sweetener)

handful of ice

desired amount of clean water (depending on how thick you want the smoothie to be)

Blend till smooth.

Enjoy this energizing, detoxifying, high calcium, absorbable protein, satisfying, alkalinizing, anti-inflammatory smoothie!

learn more about healthy smoothies and juicing to heal the body and improve energy levels at the next GRACIOUS LIVING YOGA RAW ADVENTURE RETREAT in NICARAGUA

www.gracevanberkum.com

Gracious Living high protein apple snackz

i wanted a quick, healthy, high protein snack yesterday and came up with this.  filled with immaculate anti-oxidants and prana….and really yummy. 

all you need is:

• an apple (organic is preferable, but if not, just wash it super good)
• a nut butter of choice (organic & raw is preferable, but if not just make sure it is natural…no added sugars or oils allowed!)
• hemp seeds (high in fat-burning omega 3′s, and super high in alkalinizing, vegan protein)
• cacao nibs (alkalinizing, crunchy, high fibre, antioxidant rich)

Stir in a spoon or 2 of hemp seeds, and a sprinkle of cacao nibs, in a bowl with your nut butter of choice.  (I really enjoy RAW almond butter, cashew butter, and my new fave COCONUT MANNA butter…pure flippin’ bliss!) 

Spread on apple slices.  Enjoy!

**(if you wanted to make this a tad bit sweeter, you could always add a few drops of raw agave nectar, or maple syrup)

www.gracevanberkum.com