This is a jazzed up version of chia pudding, that is more vibrant and more nutritious, but keeps all the creamy texture and filling density that you know and love!
You Can’t Beet It!
Beets bring a natural earthy sweetness and vibrant ruby color to meals. Beets’ claim to fame is their high concentration of nitrates, which improve blood vessel dilation and endothelial function. Basically, this means they help blood flow through your body more efficiently, which is important for overall health. Poor endothelial function is an early sign of heart disease and insulin resistance.
In 2021, researchers conducted an experiment to see how eating beets daily would affect metabolic markers and cognitive function in people living with type 2 diabetes. After 8 weeks, the participants had improved blood sugar control, higher antioxidants, better markers of heart health, and better cognitive function, than when they started. So you might want to keep this recipe in your regular rotation!
Your Favorite Source of Antioxidants
We probably don’t need to sell you on this ingredient, but we’ll still give blueberries the credit they deserve. Most people are aware that blueberries are a fantastic source of antioxidants. Blueberries contain high amounts of both phenolic acid and anthocyanins. Among a long list of positive effects, these antioxidants in blueberries help to reduce oxidative stress, lower inflammation, and increase insulin sensitivity. Blueberries have also been shown to help people lose weight, reduce body fat, and lower their cholesterol.
In this recipe, blueberries add to the vibrant purple color of the meal, which honestly makes it very fun to eat! They also bring a pop of that sweet/tart balance we all love, which balances out the otherwise creamy texture of the recipe.
Nature’s Caramel
Dates are an amazing natural sweetener. They are truly nature’s candy. When fresh and ripe, they have a gooey caramel-like texture – and a caramel-like taste, too!
While dates have a sweetness comparable to maple syrup or honey, the sugars are packaged in whole food form alongside fiber and minerals. In fact, studies show that rather than spiking blood sugar levels, dates actually lower blood sugar levels.
With dates, you get to have your sweets and eat them too!
Blueberry Beet Chia Pudding
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (35g) Beet, chopped - About ½ of a small beet
- ¼ cup (60g) Water
- 1 cup (148g) Blueberries, fresh or frozen - About 1 dry pint of fresh blueberries or ⅔ of a 10-oz frozen bag
- ½ tsp (2g) Cinnamon, ground - Available in spice jars
- ¼ cup (48g) Pitted Dates - About 2 large Medjool dates
- 2 tbsps (20g) Chia Seeds, ground - Available in spice jars
- 1 cup (152g) Strawberries, sliced - About 5 large strawberries or ⅓ of a 1-lb clamshell
Instructions
- Chop the beets into small pieces and steam them for about 10 minutes, or until soft.
- Add the steamed beets to a blender with the water, blueberries, cinnamon and dates. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the beet mixture into a bowl and whisk in the chia seeds. Let stand for 10 minutes to thicken slightly then divide between jars/containers. Refrigerate for about 3 hours, or until set.
- Remove chia pudding from the fridge. Add strawberries and enjoy!
Notes
- Save Time: Buy canned beets. Make sure they are not pickled!
- Storage: Do not freeze the chia pudding. Only store it in a refrigerator.