Chocolate Chia Pudding
I have to admit, while my love of chocolate is strong, I don’t love chocolate pudding - I’m more of a vanilla or lemon fan. But this recipe is a huge hit with my patients.
And it really is a nutritional powerhouse.
Chia seeds provide a huge amount of fiber, making our gut happy. And berries - whether you bought them fresh or thaw out some from the freezer - provide a burst of colour that makes the world a bit better (although you can swap to whatever fruit you think goes well with chocolate pudding).
If you like the texture a bit thicker you can add more chia seeds or use a full fat canned coconut milk. And if you’re someone (like me) who doesn’t love the ‘fish-eye’ texture of chia seeds, you can grind them up to make a smooth pudding.
Probiotic food: Maple syrup isn’t a probiotic food but raw honey is - you can make the swap if you aren’t following a low FODMAP diet
Prebiotic food: Chia seeds are a great option for feeding your good gut bacteria - with an additional prebiotic hit from the cocoa powder!
Servings: 2
IBS-low FODMAP friendly? 100% - watch your berry content to not go over your limits or risk stacking if you’re in early stages. If you’re concerned, swap them out for strawberries & kiwi (or even banana).
IBD-AID friendly? We can make this work! Swap the maple syrup out for raw honey and if you’re in phase one, bananas are your best fruit option. If you’re in phase 2, you have more fruit options. You may feel best using pureed and strained berries.
Reflux friendly? Chocolate can be an issue - use caution!
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Chia Seeds
1 tbsp Cocoa Powder
1 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 tbsp Maple Syrup
1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup Blueberries
1/2 cup Raspberries
Directions:
In a mixing bowl combine the chia seeds and cocoa powder. Whisk to combine. Then slowly whisk in almond milk until all the cocoa powder is dissolved. Next, whisk in the maple syrup and vanilla.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight.
For serving, divide chia pudding equally between bowls and top with berries. Enjoy!