Sadie147

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

hey there! i have a question...
you posted to a thread of mine about flax seeds that you eat chia seeds...

I am still eating flax seeds - as I really like them - but I did buy some chia seeds from the health food store today.

So how exactly do I use them? can I eat them as a cereal? That's how I do my flax seeds...make them into an oatmeal (using only 2 tbsp...)

but yeah - so what's the best way to use them?

[sadie147]

Sorry Kerriann just saw this now!

They're a little different than flax I'm not sure they would work like a flour when ground (i'll admit i've never tried though)...they're more for adding to foods I think. Though I have added them to flax muffins etc for their omega 3 value. you can add them whole, or grind them (though unlike flax it really isn't necesary as you can digest them no problem).

For just using as a supplement, I add them to pretty much anything..omlettes, tuna salad, quiches, oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies tc. As an ingredient, because they soak up so much moisture and create a gel when added to liquid, I find them good for thickening foods like gravy's etc.

I usually stick to around 2 tbsns as they're pretty high fibre like flax...and that's the recommended dosage. I spread it out throughout the day.

Because it absorbs so much moisture too i find it quite filling which is a nice bonus..it seems to keep my appetite in check. It's supposed to help lower cholestoral and manage blood sugar issues and is said to be very good for diabetics.

I think even when ground too you don't get the volume that you would with flax seed.

You'llh ave to let me know what ways you think of to take it and if you do try it as a cereal/flour...

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

hey there!!

well, i put 1/2 tbsp in my flax seed "cereal" today and it was perfectly fine - as expected i didn't notice any type of difference in taste. my "cereal" consists of:
2 tbsp flax - 1.33 g soluble carbs / 2.5 insoluble fiber
4 tbsp coconut milk beverage - .25 g carbs
1 egg white - .25 g carbs
1 tbsp natural peanut butter - 3 g carbs / 1 g fiber
1/2 tbsp chia seeds - 0 g carbs / 3 g fiber
1/2 cup fresh blackberries - 9 g carbs / 4 g fiber

so it came out to 13.83 (round to 14) = 14 grams carbs & 10 grams fiber for 4 net carbs.

I also made something tonight - not sure of the carb count yet - but it's basically a chocolate chia coconut bar - I cut it into 10 pieces but then cut one of those pieces in half again...it's DANGEROUS to have around...omg AWESOME! :P


here is the recipe I used (found on another forum)
1/2 c coconut oil
1/3 c cocoa (i used a free trade organic cocoa, 2 carbs/2 fiber - hidden carb calculator said 2.875 g carbs...)
1/2 c erythritol OR xylitol (I used erythritol)
1/3 c coconut water (can use coconut milk/cream or yogurt) (I used coconut milk)
28 g chia seeds (little more than 2 T)
1 1/2 c unsweetened coconut
1/4 c almond meal
1/2 t vanilla extract
dash of salt
1/4 c coconut flour
30 g vanilla whey powder (i used a "carribean cool" whey protein powder - more coconut taste! lol)

First 4 ingredients---cook some in micro to dissolve erythritol. It was actually kind of like a chocolate syrup when I took it out.
Add rest of ingredients and mix well. Put in end of a jelly roll pan (11" X 15") on plastic wrap. Smooth out to make an 11" X 6" bar and refrigerate till solid.
Cut into 12 bars, approximately 3" X 1 3/4". Wrap individually, and refrigerate.
These are really good.......I could have kept eating them. And you get lots of coconut and chia, and I added protein, so should all be good for us. And they were plenty sweet.

For the ingredients I used, 12 bars, each: 190 calories, 1.14g protein, 7.47g carbs, 5.18g fiber, net 2.29 carbs