Did you know that a fun way to enjoy superfoods is to add some raw cocoa to your diet? Yes, you can enjoy chocolate while boosting your health, the trick here is to stick to raw cocoa. Cocoa may even improve your mood and can provide heart health benefits. Try adding some raw cocoa to a superfood smoothie.
Superfoods are an excellent addition to your diet. They can help boost overall health, fight off free radicals, and they taste amazing. Here are some ways to add superfoods to add to your diet to improve your overall health.
Tip #1: Try Chia Seed Pudding
Thrown together in just a couple minutes! Be sure to make this in advance (I like making it before bed) so it has time to thicken up. The thickness of the chia pudding will vary based on the kind of almond milk you use, so don’t worry if it looks a bit thick or thin when you first try it out. If your pudding is too thin you can add more chia seeds and let it sit for 30 minutes more; if it’s too thick, try adding a touch more almond milk.
Ingredients:
For the chia pudding:
3 cups unsweetened almond milk
1/2 to 3/4 cup chia seeds, as needed
1-3 tablespoons of pure maple syrup, to taste (optional)
Suggested toppings:
Granola
Fresh fruit
Coconut flakes
Pure maple syrup
Cinnamon
Cocoa
Nuts and seeds
Banana Soft Serve
Directions:
Whisk the almond milk, chia seeds, and sweetener together in a large bowl. (For a thin and runny chia pudding, use 1/2 cup chia seeds. For a thick chia pudding, use 3/4 cup chia seeds.) Let sit for 5-10 minutes and then whisk again (this just helps prevent clumping).
Cover and chill in the fridge for 3 hours, or overnight. It helps to stir the mixture every so often during this time, but don’t worry if you can’t.
Stir well before serving. If it’s too runny, whisk in more chia seeds and let it sit again until thickened. If it’s too thick, thin it with a touch of milk.
Portion into bowl(s) and add your desired toppings. Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
Tip #2: Try Adding Flax & Chia Seeds to Smoothies
Flax and chia seeds are excellent sources of plant-based omega 3 fatty acids which help to fight off inflammation in the body and are excellent for brain health. Try adding these seeds to your daily smoothie.
Tip #3: Enjoy More Berries
Berries are packed full of antioxidants which can help fight off free radicals. Try enjoying berries as a healthy snack or enjoy with a bowl of oatmeal.
For this week’s challenge, I challenge you to try at least two of the following superfoods:
- Flaxseeds
- Chia seeds
- Hemp seeds
- Coconut
- Berries
- Acai
- Kale
- Brussels Sprouts
- Raw cocoa