They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and I couldn’t agree more! I take that phrase to mean that breakfast is a golden opportunity to eat something “healthy” and “light” so I’ve already set myself up for success whenever I say f*ck it and get something like pizza for lunch.
While I *need* to eat something different every day for lunch and dinner, for some reason, I really can eat almost the same thing every day for breakfast. HBU?
It’s strange, right? Maybe it’s because I’m a creature of comfort and so I really really really look forward to the consistency of eating the same thing every single morning. Maybe it’s because the day is crazy enough, and this feels like the one time where I know exactly what to expect. Maybe it’s this “morning routine” thing everyone is talking about. Maybe I’m just too lazy to get an elaborate meal going first thing in the am.
But it’s always been this way.*****
As a kid, I ate Lucky Charms cereal with whole milk every day.
In my 20s, I ate greek yogurt and granola every day.
And now in my 30s, I’m eating chia pudding (or a smoothie) every day.
And I JUMP out of bed to eat this chia pudding.
******Don’t get me wrong - I love me some pancakes, slice of toast, or a bodega egg sandwich…I’m not a complete psychopath. If u wanna make it for me, then I’m eatin’ it!
Reasons why I love it so:
It’s insanely easy and quick to make
I can make a big batch, throw it in my fridge, and eat it all week long
It has fun dessert energy with all the toppings you can play with….but actually good for you..
It’s healthy AF - packed to the brim with fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants!
The best part is having fun with your toppings (i.e. the fun dessert vibes I just mentioned above). I like to top with fresh fruit, coconut flakes, cocoa nibs, and whatever else assortment of nuts/seeds. Get creative! Have fun with it!
The base of this recipe is the chia and nut milk, but I add orange zest to give it a zippy flavor. If you don’t have orange / don’t want it - no problem! I’ve also had success adding cacao powder or matcha. Again, get wild! But hey, it’s also good str8 up.
So while this may not be one of my “sexier”””” dishes (lol) I’ve shared here, know that it’s one that I eat actually eat on the reg. It keeps my belly happy and fueled for all my other cookin’ (and eatin’).
Enjoy lovelies :)
Overnight Zesty Chia Pudding
4 Servings
GF, DF
Ingredients
4 cups alternative milk
3/4 cup chia seeds
Zest of 1/2 orange
Drizzle of maple syrup or honey (optional)
Let’s do it!
Combine milk, chia seeds, orange zest, and optional sweetener in a sealable container.
Whisk to combine.
Put in the fridge to set overnight.
In the morning, it will be a little clumpy. That’s okay! Just whisk it again to smooth it out.
Pour in a bowl and top with your fixins’: I recommend slicing up the orange that you zested (never wasting in this kitchen!), adding some berries, some coconut flakes, cacao nibs, seeds / nuts, and an extra drizzle of honey or maple syrup (if you like it sweet :)
Happy cooking.
Love ya mucho :)
Tessa
let's talk about how many years you packed yourself a butter sandwich on wonder bread for lunch!!!!
Great !!!