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Instead of making cute little conversation pieces out of the chia seedlings, we should have been eating them. Go figure.
With the recent focus on the importance of omega-3 in our diets, chia has re-emerged as a hot trend in healthy eating and living. Native to Central and South America, the seeds offer essential nutrients and high fiber.
With the of release of new chia products, Dole Nutrition Plus has compiled some stats on the health benefits of chia.
According to Dole, a single serving of the new DOLE products include:
* two times more omega-3 than walnuts
* two times more fiber than oatmeal
* 21% more fiber than flax
* three times more calcium than cottage cheese
* 68% of the calcium in a glass of milk
* As much iron as spinach
* 79% of the protein in an egg
* 46% of the folate in a glass of orange juice
Consumers and chefs are coming up with new and interesting ways to incorporate chia into their recipes.
Here's one now...
Whole Wheat Chia Seed Pancakes Makes 8–10 pancakes
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup old fashioned oats?
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 tbsp. canola oil
2 tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice?
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. chia (plus more for garnish)
Syrup or other desired toppings
Directions:?
Spray griddle or pan with cooking spray and heat to a medium heat. Beat egg and add milk and oil. In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and salt. Slowly stir flour mixture into egg mixture. Add honey and stir until combined.
Stir in chia seeds. Pour 1/4 c. portions of batter onto griddle and cook until edges of pancakes start to bubble and bottoms are light brown. Flip and cook until centers are completely done (about three to four minutes). Top with syrup, and additional chia seeds, if you choose.
-adapted from Shape magazine
