Chi Chi Chi Chia... Fresca!

What the heck is that?!?!  Read on to find out!

Hello to everyone!  It’s the blog you’ve all been waiting for (I’m sure), blog #2!  

I wasn’t really sure about what to write about, since there isn’t really a theme to this blog, per se.  That was intentional, but not having a guideline makes everything open and makes choosing a topic harder.  So, while I was sitting around, not doing things I really should be doing, it came to me.  “I’ll write my next blog about Chia Fresca!”  What the funk is Chia Fresca you say?  I’m getting to that.  

I’m sure the blog title gives it away, but I’ll explain anyway.  Chia seeds are a new diet fad that many people say can help you in your weight loss efforts.  (By many people I mean blogs, books, and TV personalities who are so memorable I can’t remember which one’s were talking about it.)  Yes, those are the exact same seeds that people paste to those clay Chia Pets!  You may be thinking, “You’re going to eat that?!?!” Yes!  Yes, I am!  Actually, it’s yes I have.

(While doing research for this blog post I found that the official Chia Pets website actually sells chia seeds specifically for you to ingest!)  See! The official site sells them!

Chia seeds aren’t just for weight loss though.  They are an excellent source of Omega 3’s, protein, fiber, iron, and more.  The fiber is supposed to help you feel fuller longer, but that’s not all.  The chia seeds absorb water like crazy!  From what I read they absorb up to 9 times their weight in water!  So, if you soak them for 30 minutes or so in water they turn into what is called chia gel.  Yes, it sounds odd and it is.  Imagine eating/drinking a teeny tiny version of those balls they add to smoothies at Fruit Land. 

I hate those balls from Fruit Land, but the chia seeds are kind of interesting when they turn gelatinous and are small enough to chug down without much notice.  After all that, down to the business of Chia Fresca.

After deciding to try to add chia to my diet for weight loss and for the benefits of extra iron and Omega 3’s, I Googled chia seed recopies.  Something I saw in most of the websites was Chia Fresca.  It’s basically water mixed with a small amount of juice and Chia seeds.  So far, I’ve only tried one recipe, but I love it. 

I am not a big water drinker and this Chia Fresca recipe is good enough that I am not only getting in chia seeds everyday, I’ve upped my water intake significantly.  I’ve included the link to the website where I found the recipe and you can read about Chia Seeds and the original recipe there.  Chia Fresca Recipe from chiaseedrecipes.com

The recipe, finally.  Mix together ½ a cup of pomegranate juice, ¼ or so of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, and 9 cups of water.  Put the chia seeds in last, because they will stick to the bottom a bit if you don’t.  Once you’ve added all the ingredients together, mix them to blend the mixture.  Mix it at least once again after 15 minutes.  You will need to stir or if possible shake the container of the mixture before each use, because the seeds settle at the bottom. 

Chia Fresca ingredients and my awesome glass water bottle. BPA free baby!

The original recipe calls for ½ a cup of lemon juice, but I found that ¼ of a cup was all I got from the one lemon I bought and it added a nice lemon flavor without overpowering the pomegranate.  The second time I made the recipe I forgot to buy a lemon and just used some bottled lemon juice I had in the fridge.  I used the full half a cup and it was too strong.  Also, to be honest, I did NOT like the taste of the bottled juice in the Fresca at all!  It tasted like BLECH!  I tried adding more pomegranate juice and cutting it with more water, but nothing really got rid of the odd flavor that the bottled juice had added to the Fresca. After drinking about half of it, I dumped it.  I know that it's wasteful and I feel bad about that, but it was either that or be turned off to the Fresca for good.  I actually like the Fresca enough that I didn't want to ruin it by forcing myself to finish that batch.

Finished Chia Fresca! 

(Remember to shake/stir before each use!)

 

Overall, this recipe is a win win for me.  I’m getting in the chia seeds in a quick and easy way that is also helping me to get in more water, which I’m generally terrible at.  Will this help me lose weight?  I don’t know, but it is a healthy habit that I’m sure will benefit me and my diet.  I’m sure it would help if I exercised and cut out the tons of sugar I ingest, but hey, one step at a time right?